“pray constantly,”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬

My friend KerriLyn was driving us to a park one day when we came upon a car accident. An ambulance and a few police cars were idling at the scene. As we passed, KerriLyn whispered a brief prayer for the safety of all involved. She didn’t ask if I wanted to participate. She didn’t even say her prayer so that I could necessarily even hear it. It’s just the way she reflexively reacted to seeing people in a crisis moment.

Another time we were walking down the sidewalk together when we saw some people arguing on the other side of the street. KerriLyn again mumbled a brief prayer under her breath asking for peace to arrive for the young couple. She barely even broke stride, and we continued our conversation.

Later that same day, she suddenly thanked God for some floral fragrance she appreciated in the spring air.

This happened frequently during time spent with my friend, and I came to realize she was living out today’s Bible verse. Pray constantly.

KerriLyn’s relationship with God was such that He was the first person she went to with anything she saw that disturbed or delighted her. She knew He was always nearby, and that He cared about everything she experienced every day. She knew He could help in every difficult situation, and she also knew that He deserved immediate praise whenever she noticed something wonderful He had created.

God deserves and loves to be included in my life, all day long, every day. And with prayer, there is no time like the present.

Dear God,

Teach me to be more like KerriLyn in my prayer life. Forgive me when I forget about you. Remind me of your constant presence, your interest in my thoughts and experiences, and your desire to bless people that I encounter who may need your blessing. In other words, teach me to pray constantly.