The early Christians prayed. A lot.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul famously says to “pray continuously.” Does he mean that we should never stop uttering words to God? What about when we’re sleeping or eating? His point, of course, is that we should make a regular habit of prayer. 

Some have argued that many of the early Christians had three regular times each day that they used for prayer—in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night. In Acts 2:42 we learn that they “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Literally it says “the prayers.” This may be a reference to those three regular times of prayer. There was certainly a precedent for that: David prayed three times a day (Psalm 55:17) and so did Daniel (Daniel 6:10).

Today, we don’t need to be legalistic about it, but we should be consistent.

One of the ways we can pray is “on the fly.” We can pray as we drive our car, walk the dog, or do the dishes. To be honest, I struggle with this sometimes. It feels a bit common to pray before the Lord of the universe when I’m watching my dog sniff yet another fire hydrant. 

But those aren’t the only times we pray. We also pray before meals and as we start our days. We pray when gathered with the church and on special occasions. We pray for those who are hurting, when we’re in a crisis, and as we prepare to go to sleep.

In all of it, the posture of our heart is more important than where we are, how we are using our hands, or whether we’re standing, sitting or kneeling.

In Psalm 1 we learn about a person who delights in God’s law and who “meditates” on it night and day. The word “meditate” can also be translated as “murmur.” It envisions a person who is quietly speaking the word of God as he goes about his usual routines.

So can it be with prayer.

It’s okay to pray on the fly. And as you do, may you experience wings of flight in the pathways of Christ.

Notes:

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.