Persistent Prayer

FBC family,

Truth be told, we often discuss the importance of prayer, yet most of us feel we don't engage in it often enough. So, what should our daily experience in prayer truly be like?

If Jesus, God’s perfect Son, recognized the necessity of prayer and often stepped away from His daily ministries to commune with His Father, then we, as God’s children, should certainly seek to do the same.

I believe it's wise to set aside time each day for prayer, making it a vital part of our "quiet time." But even more importantly, we should strive to be in a constant state of prayer. The Apostle Paul taught us to "pray without ceasing" in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. This doesn't mean we should stay in our prayer closet with our eyes closed, petitioning God's throne all our waking hours. Rather, it means cultivating an attitude of prayer, maintaining an open line of communication with God throughout the day, no matter what we're doing.

This past week, I actually searched for a scriptural reference to praying with our eyes closed and couldn't find one. In fact, it was quite the opposite:

Jesus Himself often prayed with His eyes lifted to heaven (John 11:41).

Nehemiah offered a quick prayer with his eyes open while standing before the king (Nehemiah 2:1-4).

The Psalmist writes, "To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!" (Psalm 123:1).

The emphasis throughout Scripture regarding prayer is not on how we pray, but on the intent of the heart. What truly matters are sincerity, humility, faith, and a genuine desire to communicate with God – rather than a specific physical position or whether one's eyes are open or closed.

We often close our eyes during prayer for practical reasons: to minimize visual distractions, to help focus our thoughts and attention solely on God, and to create a sense of personal intimacy with Him.

Ultimately, the Bible teaches that you can pray in any posture, at any time, and in any place, as long as your heart is directed towards God. Whether your eyes are open or closed is a personal choice that helps facilitate your connection with Him. I encourage you to connect with Him daily.