Vital Signs: Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Because God Says So

“Always be joyful. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” - ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬, ‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We're going to discuss many reasons to pray, but let's start with the simplest one: because God says so. Just like when we were young, if this were the only reason God gave us to pray, it would be enough. There’s no need to make excuses—no questioning the reasoning or saying, But what if… I'm busy. I'm tired. I don't feel like it. I'm not good at it. I can handle it on my own.

Why do we strive to avoid it? These may not be the words we say, but isn’t this what we’re thinking when we neglect prayer, even though we know God desires it?

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 tells us that it is His will for us to pray without ceasing. And just like a loving parent, His command isn’t to burden us—it’s for our own good.

Honestly, we could end this devotional right here. The fact that God desires prayer in our lives should be motivation enough, right? But no—we are sinful, and the enemy preys on our weaknesses. That’s why we must equip ourselves with the truth about prayer. I have so much more to share, but I love starting here.

Let’s allow this to be enough for today: God, who knows vastly more than we do, desires us to pray without ceasing. Let’s trust that He knows what He’s talking about.

ACTION STEP: Just start praying about whatever is on your heart. Simply start talking with the Father!