1 Thessalonians. 5:17-18. Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

When I first was converted into believing the power of prayer, I thought prayer was just saying formula prayers and talking to God in your own words. What I found over the years, prayer is being in union with God in many different ways. Walking in faith in God, is prayer. And a powerful one at that. It doesn’t have to be words, but rather a state of being. Being conscious of God in the most ordinary things in life as well as in our sorrows, relaxations, excitement and etc. Being present and being aware that God is with you in all of this.

When you suffer don’t waste a moment of it, offer your suffering with our Lord and it will be rewarded beyond measure in heaven. Offering up our sufferings in patience, faith and love of God is a very powerful prayer. Most people agree fasting is something God is calling all Christians to offer up. But not everybody understands to offer up their lives to God for His glory, is to walk with Him in your daily activities with the same virtues as Jesus Christ. All this is prayer.

People sometimes think you only offer up your sufferings, but God wants you to offer everything about your life, your joys and relaxations as well. When you do that you become more careful to imitate Jesus. And therefore nothing about your life is wasted. Even you sinful nature, offer it up to God that you learn humility and be free of judging others.

If you look at nature God has made this world in such a way, nothing is being wasted. Even waste products is use to fertilise the soil. Our sins when repented of them can act in the same way. It is very humbling to know that it is only the love of God and the sacrifice that Jesus has made makes us worthy to be children of God. We have done nothing to deserve this honour, except to believe in Him and to live a life to please him much as possible. We are expected to do our best and be imitators of Christ. If we do that we are showing reverence and love and gratitude to God for all that He does for us. Which is always good.

Don’t ever be confused with the lies that Satan spreads about God. That God wants us to suffer, but rather realise we are in a fallen world and suffering is part and parcel of a world that has turn its back from God and Gods’ commandments, which is love and wisdom itself.

To pray without ceasing with a grateful heart will open doors to such intimacy with God. It usually doesn’t happen over-night. But it is truly rewarding if you make a habit of being with God, in faith. Sometimes you might experience His tangible presence, but mostly you will be resting in Him. What I mean by that you will be at peace with yourself and with God. You will learn to listen and do things His way, because you are always thinking of Him either consciously or unconsciously. He becomes the love of your life. And you will be able to carry your burdens easier, because you know God is with you in all of this. God doesn’t leave anybody, but we have to make a daily effort to choose to be with God in all of our activities and rest. I am not talking about hard thinking, but just a consciousness that God is with us. Learn to rest in Him. When you do, you will notice this comes about when you believe and trust Him to be the God He says He is.

Luke 12:35. Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.

Matthew 5:15-16. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

I prefer the translation of ‘put it under a bushel’ than a basket. To me it makes more sense.

God gave me a revelation today I believe. The light that shines in us, is Jesus Himself shining through us. That if we are truly His, depending on the degree we are His, our light will shine intensely. If we genuinely are following Jesus and do His Will we are like a lantern. Depending how clean the lantern is the brighter the light will shine through us. The more people will recognise you belong to God, which will please God, because He will be able to reach more people that way.  You win souls, because it is Jesus touching souls through you.

 I practise Holy Communion for years, first thing every day. I often feel His Presence during Holy Communion within me. That is where I got the idea that I am a lantern or lamp whatever way you want to describe it. Jesus is His own person in us and He can heal, comfort set free the prisoners easily in us by just being one with Him. Many people who believe in the bread and wine turns into the actual body and blood of Christ and partake in it every day often feels His tangible Presence within them. So I am not the only one by far. But it was during Holy Communion I got the idea of being like a lantern and Jesus can flow through me and you according to how much we allow Him to do so. If we practise prayer and live to please Him we will shine. It will be His light that shines through us, not us. We become one with Jesus.

John 17:21. That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Jesus can work through us secretly without us knowing. He can heal the sick, comfort those who are lonely and do miracles I believe, by just being in us. We don’t have to do anything, but love God with all our hearts and above all things, and obey Him. He will use us because He is in us.