What does it mean to pray without ceasing?

from the old testament

• Throughout the Old Testament we read of men and women praying to God. In as early as Genesis 20:17, we see that after Abraham prayed to God, King Abimelech was healed and so were his wife and female slaves (Genesis 20:17).
• In Genesis 25:21, Isaac prayed to God about His wife Rebeccah because she was barren. God then granted his request by blessing her with twins.
• Hannah prayed to God in her distress (1 Samuel 1:10) because she could not bear a child. God then answered her request and she later prayed to Him again in great joy (1 Samuel 2:1–10).
• After hearing Jerusalem's walls had been destroyed by the Babylonians, Nehemiah prayed for Israel’s restoration (Nehemiah 1:4-11).
• In Daniel 9:20, Daniel writes of a time in which he prayed to God—confessing his sin and the sin of Israel.

from the new testament

• The Greek word translated as "without ceasing" is ἀδιαλείπτως (adialeiptōs) which means without intermission, incessantly, or with great care and perseverance. We should be in constant prayer. Paul uses this phrase four different times in Scripture, three of them in this letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:2–3; 2:13; 5:17).
• In 1 Thessalonians 5:15–18, Paul writes, "See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Paul's commands here are paired with several others that are actions and attitudes that exemplify the life of the Christian.
• Paul writes to the church in Rome, "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers" (Romans 1:9–10a).
• Luke 18:1 says Jesus told His followers "a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." Instead of falling apart over difficult trials or seasons of life, we should be bringing prayers to God always.
• In Luke 21 Jesus reminds His disciples to remain vigilant, lest they be "weighed down" with the cares of life. He told them to "stay awake at all times [metaphorically speaking], praying that you may have strength" (Luke 21:34–36).
• In Acts, we read of the company of disciples returning to Jerusalem after Jesus' ascension; they gathered together and "All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers" (Acts 1:14). We can follow their example and fervently pray with other believers.
• In Romans 12:12 Paul writes, "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Prayer is part of a three-step instruction to persevere as a believer.
• Paul told the church in Ephesus to be "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication" (Ephesians 6:18).
• Paul counseled the Philippians not to worry about anything and to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6). Every anxiety we have should be brought to the feet of Jesus in prayer.
• In Colossians 4:2 Paul writes, "Continue steadfastly in prayer." This would seem to echo the similar command to “pray without ceasing.”

implications for today

Prayer is one of our primary means of communication with God. It is an opportunity to speak with the Creator of the universe and be heard (e.g., Jeremiah 29:12–13; Psalm 66:17–20; Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 Peter 3:12; 1 John 5:15). To pray without ceasing, we pray more than just in set aside times. It looks like praying to God about the big and the small things and praying in all circumstances and all seasons of life. We can talk to God about everything and anything—every emotion, thought, worry, excitement, and more. When Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing" he is encouraging them, and by extension us, to always be in prayer, seeking God's counsel and wisdom in every aspect of our lives. Notice that the command to "pray without ceasing" is surrounded by the concepts of rejoicing and giving thanks. Prayer is not just about us gaining wisdom or making requests, it also includes worshiping and praising God. When we pray without ceasing, we are acknowledging that our life belongs to the One who gave His own life to preserve ours and turning over our will and our desires to Him (Matthew 26:36–46; Romans 8:26–30; 1 Peter 5:6–7; 1 John 5:14–15).