Pray Without Ceasing

             Hey everyone! I hope you guys have been having a good week and a great Sunday! Over the past few days God has really placed the meaning of prayer on my heart.The testing of  my faith and willingness to pray and let God take control has really come into play this week and I believe that I've really grown in my walk of prayer just over the past two days. Life is hard. That's something we all know. But Jesus never once told us that it would be easy. As a matter of fact in Matthew 16:24 He says "If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [ disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if needed be, in dying also]." Doing this is not easy. Denying yourself each day and taking up the cross is one of the hardest things there can be to do. But we have hope. Right before Jesus was arrested to be crucified He prayed. He went aside by himself and cried out to God. "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." (Matthew 26:42) Before praying he said to His disciples "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death..."(Matthew 24:38). Doesn't this sound like us sometimes.? We can become so overwhelmed and burdened with sadness that we become hopeless.  Before taking up the cross Jesus himself prayed seeking peace and guidance in such a dark time. He was burdened and in anguish so He prayed. What does this tell us? We are supposed to imitate Christ and if Jesus the very person who wiped away all of our sin and shame got down on His knees and cried out to God for help then we to should do the same. Taking up the cross is a big deal and there will be times when it feels impossible to do. That is why we must pray.   Knowing that we have been asked to take up the cross, which is a task far to impossible for us to do on our own, we must pray asking God to help us throughout our day. So my challenge to you today is to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) know that your prayers are powerful and effective and that God is listening and will provide all that you need and ask for. My prayer for everyone that reads this post today is that "The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13  

Love,

Sofia