How Prayer Begets Prayer: The Ever-Growing Flame
Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV)
The Lord commands us to live in a constant state of prayer. This isn’t merely a task or obligation but a principle that, when understood, transforms our spiritual life. One of the key insights into developing an unceasing prayer life is simple: prayer begets more prayer. The more we pray, the more we feel drawn to pray. On the other hand, prayerlessness—the neglect of prayer—leads to further neglect, making it increasingly difficult to return to God’s presence.
Imagine your fellowship with God as a fireplace filled with glowing coals. God’s presence is the fireplace, and we are the individual coals. When we are connected to Him through prayer, our spirits burn brightly, fueled by the warmth and power of His presence. But just like a piece of coal pulled from the fire, if we stray from prayer, we begin to cool. We lose that inner fire, turning from red-hot to blackened and cold. The longer we stay disconnected from prayer, the harder it becomes to reignite that spiritual flame.
Yet, the beauty of prayer is that it is self-perpetuating. Each time we pray, we stoke the embers of our hearts, reigniting our passion for God. Prayer draws us deeper into God’s presence, creating a hunger to commune with Him more often. Even if our prayer life feels cold or distant, returning to God in prayer—even in small, hesitant steps—rekindles the fire. Like placing a cold piece of charcoal back into the fire, it soon catches flame again.
No resource, lesson, or conference on prayer can substitute for actually praying. These tools have value, but nothing fuels a prayer life like the act of prayer itself. If you’re struggling to pray, the best remedy is simple: just pray. Even if it feels forced or dry at first, each prayer adds fuel to the fire, making it easier to pray the next time.
Conversely, neglecting prayer makes it harder to return. Prayerlessness leads to more prayerlessness, and over time, our hearts grow hard, distanced from the warmth of God’s presence. The longer we stay away, the more challenging it becomes to rekindle that desire. That’s why Paul’s command to “pray without ceasing” is crucial. Continuous prayer keeps the fire of our spiritual life alive, creating a momentum that sustains us.
Meditate
Can you explain how prayer creates its own momentum? Reflect on times in your life when prayer led to more prayer, and consider how neglecting prayer made it harder to start again.
Act on the Word
If you’re feeling distant from God, the best way to fix it is to pray. Don’t wait for the feeling to come back; let your prayer be the spark that reignites your spiritual fire. Make time today to pray, even if it’s just for a few minutes, and watch how it leads to more.
Pray
Ask the Holy Spirit to stir up your desire for prayer and rekindle the flame of your communion with God.
Recommended
- The Battle for Your Prayer Life
- What It Means to Wrestle in Prayer
- Why is Prayer So Difficult?
- How to Set Your Prayer Life on Fire
- Pray Without Ceasing
- View All Deshen Daily Devotionals
Free Mini E-book: From Spiritual Dryness to Flourishing
