Spiritual Prayer

I remember how I used to struggle with the Apostle Paul's words in I Th. 5:17, "Pray without ceasing". What did that mean?  How could you get anything done if you prayed 24/7?  The phrase, "without ceasing" means "uninterrupted".  I have come to learn more and more about the abiding presence of God and spiritual prayer.  Spiritual prayer is a word I have coined to distinguish between soulish prayer and spiritual prayer. Paul also tells us that we can "pray in the Spirit and pray with our understanding". There is a definite distinction between the two.   That particular verse is speaking of prayer in the Spirit which is followed by an understanding of what we prayed in the Spirit earlier.  That interpretation is not necessarily instantaneous or even perceived as an interpretation.  It could be days later.  The fact that there is a distinction in prayer between the Holy Spirit praying through us (Rom. 8:26) and praying with our mind or soul is proof that the origin of prayer could be either us or God.  Many of our prayers that begin with us, regardless of how sincere we may be, are soulish  and self-centered.  Prayers that originate in the Spirit are pure and according to the will of God.  How then can we pray more from the Holy Spirit's inspiration and less from our own religious duty.  It has to do with maintaining an unbroken fellowship  or as we learned earlier, "uninterrupted" connection with God.  This level of communion is something we can learn and deepen as we practice a God awareness.  Obviously, we all have to work and function out in the workplace.  We can't come across as weird or super-spiritual or we work against our purpose of bringing Jesus to others.  There is a place of unbroken communication between your spirit and God's Spirit!  Even when you aren't aware, it's happening!  Often I will wake in the night our early morning and realize that Bible verses or songs are going on inside me.  I have experienced this many times.  It means that even though I'm asleep my spirit man is connected to God and involved in worship and prayer.  What is my purpose is this writing?  I want to encourage you to learn to live with a God  awareness or consciousness!  Your life is not all natural as the world around us.  The people that you know what are not followers of Jesus live in the two dimensions of body and soul.  We have the added dimension of a living spirit which has been quickened and living in a cohabitation with the Holy Spirit.  Enjoy your walk as one filled with the Holy Spirit!