Praying Without Ceasing

Praying Without Ceasing

Brother Lawrence described his life of prayer not as a series of formal prayer times but as a continuous conversation with God through every activity of the day. 'I make it my business to persevere in His holy presence, wherein I keep myself by a simple attention, and a general fond regard to God,' he wrote. Cooking, cleaning, repairing sandals — all became acts of prayer. 'I possess God as tranquilly in the bustle of my kitchen as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament.' His Practice of the Presence of God describes what 1 Thessalonians 5:17 looks like in a kitchen: prayer that never stops because it has ceased to be a distinct activity and become the atmosphere of the whole life.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 is the shortest verse in Paul's letters: 'Pray continually.' Two words. One instruction. But the instruction is comprehensive: unceasing prayer is the goal. This doesn't mean formal, kneeling, eyes-closed prayer every moment — it means the orientation of continuous conversation with God running under and through everything else. The monk's 'Hours' and the Muslim's five daily prayers are attempts at structure that maintains this orientation; the charismatic's 'speaking in tongues' is another; the contemplative's 'breath prayer' is another. All are approaches to the same goal: life that is continuously in communication with God. What practice cultivates this orientation in your specific life?