(Ephesians 6:18) Pray at all times in the Holy Spirit with all kinds of prayers and requests.

 For some, the idea that Christians can pray at all times—or continuously—is impossible.

The reason why “praying at all times” seems so foreign for some is because of what we envision prayer to be. We think prayer is something we do only when we fold our hands and bow our heads, but this is not biblical prayer.

Biblical prayer is a dynamic expression of our hearts that are empowered by the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. For when we are born-again, the Holy Spirit—the experiential presence and power of God—dwells in us and works through us. And at times, the Holy Spirit seems to actually pray through us, not simply in words but with deep groans. As Romans 8:26-27 tells, ”The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

When we understand prayer this way, we can experience prayer continuously through our day. When we get rid of our preconceived ideas of rigid prayer, then we can experientially practice contemplative prayer, and what I call “weak prayer,” when we just turn everything over to the Holy Spirit as Romans 8:26-27 says.

There has been many times through my life when I no longer had any words to pray. I was exhausted and empty. I was weak. Yet, it was in my times of weakness and emptiness that I have had my deepest times of prayer. I simply gave in and let the Holy Spirit take over, and he mystically prayed through me and connected me intimately with God. Biblical prayer is not one-dimensional or mechanical.

Biblical prayer is Spirit-led and is expressed in many ways—through all kind of prayers, requests, and even wordless groans. In a way, prayer is an expressive and creative art form that simply flows out from us—in ways we do not control. We need to get rid of all of our preconceived ideas of prayer.

Prayer is a lifestyle.

We need to set ourselves free in prayer. In this way, prayer is unique to each one of us. We do not all pray the same way. We pray as the Holy Spirit leads us through our personalities and gifts.

I encourage you to let yourself go in prayer, and let prayer flow at all times through the Holy Spirit.

I encourage you to develop your own expressive and creative art form of prayer; it will be a unique communion between you and God.