The question “Who is the woman who prays always?” is an intriguing one that prompts further probing. In exploring this topic, we must first define what it means to be a woman who “prays always”. This suggests a woman of deep and steadfast faith, who continually communes with God through prayer. Her life is marked by constancy in prayer, not just during set times but as she goes about her daily activities. She sees prayer not as an occasional act but as an ongoing conversation woven into the fabric of her life. This gives us a helpful framework for considering examples of godly women who exemplify the attitude and discipline of ceaseless prayer.
Examples from Scripture
In the Bible, one woman who stands out as a model of habitual prayer is Anna the prophetess in Luke 2. After being married for seven years, she lived as a widow for many decades, to the age of eighty-four. During this time “she never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying” (Luke 2:37). Anna had cultivated a lifestyle of prayer and worship, communing with God continually as she waited for the promised Messiah. When Mary and Joseph arrived at the temple with the baby Jesus, Anna recognized Him immediately and gave thanks to God. She is a picture of persistent, faithful prayer.
Another godly example is Mary, the mother of Jesus. When Gabriel appeared to her announcing she would miraculously bear the Son of God, Mary responded with immediate submission and praise to God (Luke 1:38). She went on to pray the iconic Magnificat prayer, exalting the greatness of the Lord (Luke 1:46-55). This posture of praise characterized Mary, as did her meditation on the events surrounding Jesus’ life (Luke 2:19, 51). Mary treasured these spiritual truths in her heart through ongoing communion with God.
Examples from Church History
Throughout church history, there have been many other notable women of prayer who inspired those around them. One is Monica, the devoted mother of Saint Augustine. She prayed constantly for her wayward son’s conversion for decades, until he finally surrendered his life to Christ in 386 AD. Her persistence in intercession speaks of a deep well of prayer without ceasing.
Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley, is also renowned for her dedicated prayer life. As she raised her many children, Susanna scheduled times of prayer and instilled this discipline in her family. Even amidst constant activity, she would lift up her apron and pray out loud wherever she was. Stories tell of people hearing her prayers while passing by her home.
Gladys Aylward was a spirited missionary to China in the early 1900s. As she brought the gospel to those who hadn’t heard, Gladys made prayer a bedrock of her life and work. She was known to rise at dawn each morning to pray for hours, bringing every need before God. Her book “The Small Woman” chronicles the amazing answers to prayer she experienced.
Women of Prayer Today
While times and contexts change, God continues to work through faithful women devoted to prayer without ceasing. One modern example is Basilea Schlink, co-founder of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary based in Germany. Prayer is the very heartbeat of their community as the sisters live out the Benedictine tradition of ora et labora (“pray and work”). They intercede constantly for the needs of the church and world.
Heidi Baker is another contemporary example through her Iris Global ministry in Mozambique. While overseeing a network of over 10,000 churches, Heidi maintains prayer as her lifeline. She daily spends hours with God as she cares for orphans, evangelizes communities, and meets other immense needs. Her life motto is simply “Love and pray.”
These inspiring women, both historic and current, remind us that a lifestyle of ceaseless prayer honors God and fuels faith. May their examples encourage us toward greater intimacy with Christ through persistently praying without fainting.
Traits of Women Who Pray Always
As we have seen, the women who “pray without ceasing” have some common traits and disciplines worth reflecting on more deeply:
They cultivate constant communion with God. Prayer is not just a periodic task item but an ongoing conversation interwoven into everything.
They make prayer the priority amidst busyness. No matter how demanding their responsibilities, prayer comes first.
They pray in all circumstances. Prayer is the reflex whether in joy, sorrow, routine, uncertainty, or crisis.
They nurture humility and surrender. These women approach God with reverence, seeking His will over their own.
They pray with thanksgiving. Gratitude colors their prayers for big and small matters.
They pray with tenacity. They persevere in bringing requests persistently before God’s throne of grace.
They pray with authority. Based on their intimacy with Christ, they pray His Word boldly in faith.
They pray with sensitivity to the Spirit. Following the Spirit’s promptings keeps their prayers fresh and dynamic.
They often pray silently. Beyond scheduled prayer times, they cultivate an inner attitude of continual conversation with God.
Put simply, for these women who “pray without ceasing,” prayer is the air they breathe each moment. Their lives radiate the truth that “prayer is the mighty engine that is to move the missionary work” (Ellen G. White). May we strive to make prayer just as vital to our lives and faith.
Why It’s Important to Pray Always
After surveying biblical examples and traits of women of unceasing prayer, we must reflect: why is maintaining this constant prayer so important? What does it accomplish in and through us? Consider the following key reasons:
It honors God. As our communication with Him, prayer brings joy and glory to God. It is the appropriate response to His abundance and love.
It deepens intimacy with God. Like any relationship, quality time and conversation nurture closeness. Prayer is spiritual oxygen.
It activates our faith. Praying God’s truth back to Him renews our trust in His power and ability.
It aligns our heart with God’s. Prayer helps surrender our human will to His perfect plans.
It unleashes God’s intervention. God often waits for prayer to act, achieving the impossible.
It fuels and focuses ministry. Prayer is work! It empowers all other service for Christ.
It bears spiritual fruit. Those who pray constantly shine Christ’s light most brightly to others.
It defeats spiritual attack. Ceaseless prayer is our weapon against the enemy’s schemes.
If we desire to live out God’s purposes, prayer must be the engine driving us. Let’s heed the example of faithful women who discovered the power of praying without ceasing.
How to Develop the Habit of Praying Always
We may feel daunted at the idea of praying continually like these faithful women. How can we cultivate the habit of ceaseless prayer in the busy everyday? Here are some practical tips:
Set specific prayer appointment times. Fix periods to meet with God beyond on-the-go prayers. Early morning, midday, evening prayers establish rhythm.
Make prayer your first work every morning. Begin each day with focused communion with God before anything else.
Have a dedicated prayer space. Choose a quiet spot to eliminate distractions during appointed prayer times.
Use prayer lists. Record people/topics for prayer. Review them when able to pray.
Pray with Scripture. Let God’s Word guide and inspire your prayers.
Try conversational prayer. Pray as you speak to a friend, without complex language. Be real.
Walk and pray. Combine prayer with exercise by praying aloud while walking.
Sing your prayers. Use hymns and spiritual songs to engage your heart and mind.
Pray waiting time away. While in lines, traffic, waiting rooms, lift up quick prayers.
Share prayer burdens. Ask others to pray with you for big matters on your heart.
The goal is to lean on God’s strength to weave prayer into all the moments of our days. As Teresa of Avila so beautifully expressed it, “Prayer is an act of love, words are not needed…even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love.” May God find this willing heart in us.
The Power of Praying Women
Church history traces the monumental impact of women who tapped into the power of ceaseless prayer. Their example compels us still today. Consider just a few quotes from Christian luminaries highlighting this:
| Charles Spurgeon | “The woman who knows how to pray has a greater influence over persons and events than regal authority can confer.” |
| Richard Cecil | “When a praying mother intercedes for a wayward child, she helps to keep the field open until the decisive battle is fought.” |
| John Bunyan | “Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God and a scourge to Satan.” |
| Matthew Henry | “When the hearts of God’s children are most enlarged to ask great things for the glory of God, the hearts of his enemies are most embittered to oppose it.” |
| Charles Finney | “Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other’s hearts in prayer.” |
Truly, ceaseless prayer is the heart cry that changes lives, families, churches, and nations. The mysterious work of intercession releases incredible power for God’s Kingdom purposes. May this truth compel us, as sisters in Christ, to eagerly pursue the priceless gift of praying without ceasing. In all seasons and circumstances, let’s approach His throne of grace together with boldness, perseverance, and expectant faith. The harvest of revival awaits the work and warfare of unceasing prayer.
Conclusion
In examining the question “Who is the woman who prays always?” we have explored a wealth of inspiring examples from Scripture and church history. We have reflected on the traits, impact, and blessings of ceaseless prayer in nurturing an intimate walk with Christ. Lastly, we have gleaned practical tips for cultivating this habit personally and corporately. May God awaken in us a Christ-centered passion for prayer without ceasing. May we yield to His Spirit at work in us to become women of steadfast prayer like Anna, Mary, Monica, Susanna Wesley, and the many luminaries who came after them. Lives fully surrendered to prayer still change the world today. May it start with us.