Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
How many times have you said that you would pray or would be praying for someone and then never did? I’ll confess this difficult truth: there have been times that someone told me about a difficulty going on in their life, like a “good Christian” I said, “I’m so sorry! I’ll be praying for you,” and then my own life happened and I forgot to pray. I’m guilty. Are you?
Paul’s command to be constant in prayer is translated literally from the Greek as persevere in prayer.* Perseverance in prayer may indicate a need to pray even when it’s hard or there are many distractions or when one feels discouraged.* The interpretation be constant in prayer may be fitting as well, however, as prayer was extremely important to Paul.*
Kruse points out,
He prayed that God would open the way for him to visit the Roman believers (1:10), he prayed for his converts (Eph 1:16; Phil 1:9; Col 1:3, 9; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:11; 2 Thess. 3:1; Philem 4), and he prayed with his spirit in tongues (1 Cor. 14:14–15). He urged his converts to pray for him (15:30; Col 4:3; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1) and for all the saints (Eph 6:18; 1 Tim. 2:1), and that they be constant in their prayers (12:12; 1 Cor. 7:5; Phil 4:6; Col 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17; 1 Tim. 2:8; cf. Col 4:12; 1 Tim. 5:5). Paul taught that the Holy Spirit helps believers in their weakness when they do not know what they ought to pray for (8:26).
Paul prayed, well… constantly!
Constantly? I know that in seasons of my life I have complained almost constantly. In other times of life I have sulked, spewed, and soured. But, praying constantly? Why would you do that?
Why did Paul pray so much? Paul’s life, like ours, was full of challenging changes of ups and downs. A diligent prayer life is the only way to make it through the unexpected problems of life without overwhelm.* This doesn’t come easily, however.
Paul’s word choice indicates that there is a level of effort needed to create a habit of prayer.* We must engage our will to engage in this necessary part of the Christian life.* Constant prayer that perseveres requires intention and planning.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to pray for that person that you said you would pray for but haven’t yet. Perhaps God wants you to repent for the times that you haven’t prayed. Maybe God wants to free you from your overwhelm through prayer. Perhaps today God wants you to start a new habit of praying constantly.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 477–478). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 333–334). InterVarsity Press.
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 447–448). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 410). Zondervan Publishing House.