The body cannot survive without air as the soul can no longer survive without prayer. A body can survive 7-10 days without food, 3 days without water and minutes without air. The soul cannot survive a moment without prayers.
I believe most of the world is asphyxiating. People are not getting enough “air” because their souls are not ‘breathing.’ People are not praying, so they are spiritually dying, if they’ve ever lived.
“Pray without ceasing” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Prayer is breathing.
That is, breathing in the life of God.
Don’t underestimate or downplay the criticality of prayer to one’s life. This body will die, sooner than we may desire, but it will die. The soul, though, lives on forever. A soul deprived of prayer, of the breath of God, will die. Then what? No amount of effort will bring it back from this death.
I say this with urgency, pray often, pray always. Inhale God’s grace and mercy, exhale His praises.
In the beginning we don’t realize how important it is to pray so that God can pour His life into us. As the soul travels along the road of faith, he comes to see the necessity of prayer because they know God is their all.
Just like breathing, prayer must be steady and calm. Breath too fast and one hyperventilates. Hold your breath too long, one blacks out. Prayer must be controlled. The soul can’t spend all his time speaking, for in this, he can’t catch his breath. The soul must focus and listen to God. The soul must inhale God’s grace and very presence.
Likewise, praying prayers all the time is like always blowing out air. Praying isn’t always saying prayers. Yes, the prayers of the Church are a big part of the soul’s life. But, nobody is able to prayer without ceasing if their prayer is only prayers.
Prayer must be continuous and without thought as breathing is to the body. Prayer must become an act of life as much as of living. Praying without ceasing means that in whatever state of life you live your vocation, you do so in God’s grace. Doing so for God.
If you haven’t prayed in a long time – take a deep exhilarating breath of God’s life. Pray now and feel God’s Spirit filling your soul with His crisp, life-giving breath.