“Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. This is what God wants for you…” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NCV)
Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings.
Obeying these three commands to be joyful, keep on praying, and be thankful often goes against our natural inclinations. However, when we make a conscious decision from a new perspective and do God’s will, we’ll find it easier to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful.
Joy is a way of living, not just a feeling. It comes from trusting in Christ and having an eternal perspective. We must pray without ceasing to live in a constant attitude of prayer and thanks to God for all things.
God is the source of joy and thanksgiving. We cannot spend all our time on our knees, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realising His presence within us, and determining to obey Him fully. Then, we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers.
A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times. If we fix our eyes on the difficulty, the pain becomes unbearable, peace eludes us, and the situation seems hopeless. But Thanksgiving shifts our focus to the Lord and reminds us what we can know for certain:
- We’re not alone
- God is with us
- God loves us
- We’re eternally secure
- God will bring us through
- God will turn the experience into something profitable in our lives.
Psalm 100:4-5 (NIV) says: “…give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” God alone is worthy of being worshipped.
What is your attitude towards worship? Do you willingly and joyfully come into God’s presence or are you just going through the motions, reluctantly going to church? This Psalm tells us to remember God’s goodness and dependability and to praise His name.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for the blessings You have bestowed on our lives. We give You thanks for all You have done, especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read: 1 Chronicles 16:34; Colossians 4:2
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 119:161-168; Hebrews 6:13-20; Hebrews 7:1-10; Ezekiel 7; Ezekiel 8; Ezekiel 9
