"We can't really pray all the time, can we? We can't take that text literally."

That text, of course, is 1 Thessalonians 5:17—"Pray without ceasing." The original word for "without ceasing" means "uninterruptedly", or "without omission". Modern versions usually translate it "continually".

Praise and prayer are the only habits the Bible tells us to practice all of our time. "Always pray," said Jesus. "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions," said Paul. "Always keep on praying. . . . Devote yourselves to prayer."

Think about your physical life. What is the only thing you do in your physical life all the time—the one thing you have to do continually in order to live? You're right—breathe! It's the rule of life, breathe or die. And in spiritual life there's also a natural rule—pray or die. It is prayer that sustains our spiritual life. No wonder it is called "the breathing of the soul". And no wonder, given how little time we spend in prayer, that our spiritual lives are sometimes sick and deathly.

Back to our question, which was asked with some consternation by a participant in a prayer seminar. Can we really pray all the time? Can we take "that text" literally?

For years, my own answer was "Maybe". But these days, it's a firm "Yes".

I suggest three simultaneous approaches.

First, the "Best Hour" approach. Designate sacred time every day for focused, uninterrupted prayer. Martin Luther, a leading Protestant reformer with huge demands on his time, every day spent at least three of his very best hours in prayer. Too much for you? Then begin with 15 minutes and see where it leads. Keep this time absolutely sacred! When possible, early in the day is best. Make this a decision, a commitment. Prayer is joy, but it is also spiritual discipline.

Second, the "Time Drop" approach. As drops of rain fall unexpectedly onto our path, so drops of valuable, unallocated time fall into the course of our daily lives. An appointment is delayed. We wait in line at the grocery check-out. We take a break in the park. We lie awake at night. Dozens of such "time drop" opportunities come to us every day, but we usually fill them with idle thoughts, chatter, or intrusions from popular culture through radio, TV or magazines. Instead, carry with you some scripture, and when those drops of time appear, seize the opportunity. During those precious gifts of time, lift your mind into Heaven. Pray over the Word of God for yourself and for others.

Drive time presents a regular opportunity. If prayer for you is a distraction from driving, then by all means focus on your driving! But many of us can pray very well during normal driving. While driving, pray for yourself, for your family, for your church, for those involved in an accident you might pass, for a church or school you spot from the highway, for a homeless or derelict person who comes into view. I know one person who removes the radio from each car he buys, so he'll spend more time in prayer! You might not go that far, but do use the "off" knob frequently, so you can tune in to God.

Third, the "Prayer Bubble" approach. As you put into daily practice the "Best Hour" and "Time Drop" approaches, you'll find yourself developing around you an atmosphere of prayer—a "bubble" of God's presence and power that goes with you wherever you go. So even while you are focused on work, you have an awareness of God, and of your experience in God. You pray over your work; you pause often to ask for help in it. You are "in God" just as you are in the building in which you work. That "bubble" becomes an atmosphere of peace and an aura of wisdom that testifies to others about the power of God at work in your life.

You are now "praying without ceasing". You sense the difference. You feel the joy. And others around you know that something new and extraordinary has come into your life.