Never Stop Praying

Today’s Message: NEVER STOP PRAYING
Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT
Pastor Tom Cogle
Sunday, January 18, 2026

  1. Prayer is a lifestyle not an EVENT.

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind
and a thankful heart.

Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every
occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all
believers everywhere.

  1. Prayer should be our first IMPULSE rather than our last
    resort.

Pray first, before making decisions, before taking action, before
giving in to worry.

  1. Prayer is an INVITATION for God to get involved.

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares
about you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop
praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will
for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

  1. Prayer is choosing to VIEW life from God’s perspective.
    lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by
    your own human effort?
    Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd I have all that I need.
    Isaiah 54:17 But in that coming day no weapon turned against
    you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to
    accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of
    the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have
    spoken!
    Lamentations 3:19-24 The thought of my suffering and
    homelessness is bitter beyond words. 20 I will never forget this
    awful time, as I grieve over my loss. 21 Yet I still dare to hope
    when I remember this: 22 The faithful love of the Lord never
    ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his
    mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself,
    “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
    LIES THAT DEFEAT PRAYER:
    John 8:44 NIV You belong to your father, the devil, and you want
    to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the
    beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.
    When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and
    the father of lies.
  2. LIE: “You’re not WORTHY. Your sin disqualifies your
    request.”
    1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and
    just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
    Galatians 3:1-3 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell
    on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as
    clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the
    cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the
    Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You
    received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard
    about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new

Hebrews 4:15-16 This High Priest of ours understands our
weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he
did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious
God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to
help us when we need it most.

  1. LIE: “Nothing is happening . . . you should give up!”
    Hebrews 10:35-36 So do not throw away this confident trust in
    the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient
    endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do
    God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
    Ephesians 6:13-14 AMP Therefore, put on the complete armor
    of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand
    your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done
    everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place,
    fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. 14 So stand firm and hold
    your ground,
  2. LIE: “Don’t bother praying it won’t make a
    DIFFERENCE.”
    James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each
    other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a
    righteous person has great power and produces wonderful
    results.
    Romans 2:11 For God does not show favoritism.
    Mark 11:24 NLT I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you
    believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
    NEVER EVER EVER . . . STOP PRAYING!!!!