1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Yesterday we spoke of the need to pray at all times, both good and bad. Today’s verse carries a similar message for us. Today’s passage is the closing of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian believers. He gives three very short instructions – rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. It can’t get any simpler than that, right?
Then why is it so hard for us to DO it?
Part of the reason this is such a challenge is the use of absolutes. Always. Continually. In all circumstances. Feels impossible, right? And when something seems impossible it is easier to ignore it than to attempt to do it and fail.
But there’s good news. The message is not telling us to do the impossible. The message is to remember to pray and to make an effort to talk to God whenever possible. We physically can’t pray always and in every circumstance. But we CAN pray more often than we probably do currently, right?
I challenge you to keep a prayer log on your phone today. Every chance you get, say a quick prayer of thanks, a short prayer for someone you see, or a quick request for something you need or someone you love. Then make a note in your log. You will be surprised at how much time in the day you actually CAN talk to God. Rather than mindlessly scrolling through social media or checking your email, take time to pray first. Your prayers don’t have to be long. They can be as simple as, “Thank You for that person who let my car into traffic” or “Be with that frazzled mom struggling to grocery shop with a crying baby.” The goal is not a lengthy prayer once or twice in a day, but ongoing chatter with our ever present Lord.
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