Everything and Without Ceasing: A Brief Reflection on Prayer

February 03, 2007

A couple weeks ago, I participated in the third and final weekend residence of the 2006 Centurions Program.  Like the two prior residences, the time was marked by intense, humbling intellectual challenge and spiritual conviction, as we heard – and hopefully learned – from the likes of Peter Kreeft, Chuck Colson, Gary Haugen and Ken Boa.  (Unlike before, my bride was allowed to accompany me, making for special, if not particularly romantic, memories.) 

With the passage of a little time, it’s interesting to reflect on what ideas from that weekend hold fast within me.  To this point, one question posed by T.M. Moore rings more loudly and regularly in my head than anything else:  “What is it about ‘everything’ and ‘without ceasing’ that we don’t understand?”  He was referring, of course, to St. Paul’s instructions that we pray about “everything” (Philippians 4:6) and “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  Undoubtedly, T.M.’s question haunts me, because I pray sporadically not continually.  And on the continuum between nothing and everything, my prayer life lies closer to the former than the latter.  I know better.  Now I have to do better.