And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:10-11)

Pray without ceasing

Most Christians would agree with the statement that "all of God's children need to pray more." The Bible exalts prayer because it exalts the God who answers prayer. Please consider the following ways that one should pray more.

1. Pray more frequently. Sometimes we become slack in our prayers. We get so busy that we do not believe that we have time to pray much. This is a great mistake. We must take the time to pray. "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). "Pray without ceasing" (I Thess. 5:17).

 

2. Pray more fervently. Sometimes we pray a "lazy" prayer. That is, we do not really put much effort or heart into our prayers. God wants us to be fervent in our prayers. He knows the difference. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit" (James 5:16-18).

3. Pray more sincerely. God wants us to pray to Him with a sincere heart. Some people try to put on a show when they pray. Others lead "good sounding" prayers, but they are not living holy lives. Let us sincerely pray to God. "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" (Matt. 6:5).

 

4. Pray more privately. Jesus teaches us that we need to pray in private or secret unto our heavenly Father. "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" (Matt. 6:6).

 

5. Pray more ponderously. Some merely use "vain repetitions" when they pray. We need to ponder our prayers and word them with an understanding heart. It is not the length of the prayer that is most significant. Let us pray meaningful prayers. "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him" (Matt. 6:7-8).

 

6. Pray more reverently. We need to always remember to whom we are praying. We offer our petitions to the Most High God of Heaven. "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" (Matt. 6:9).