Scripture
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. -I Thessalonians 5:16-18
There should always be a steady progression of faith in the spiritual journey in the believer's life. We should not look, sound, and respond the same way we did when we were young in the faith. There should be a shift in our default settings. The scripture above discusses the result of the steady progression of faith in our lives. How do you respond when things don't go your way? What happens when you experience a failure or when an unfavorable situation arises? What's your default setting for these circumstances? Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to rejoice, no matter the trial. This means in every situation, they were to maintain a constant spirit of joy and gladness. Their happiness should not have come as a result of good times, but from hope in the Gospel of Christ. This spiritual principle should be active in the Christian today. Our default setting should have progressed from falling apart when things go wrong to maintaining the spirit of joy and gladness, regardless of the situation.
Prayer is communication with God. Praying without ceasing means that we can live each moment of the day in a constant, flowing communication with Him. Beloved, there are times when we need to shut down all the distractions and go into our prayer closet, but Paul isn't talking about that here. He is speaking of consistent fellowship with God throughout your day. It's a continuous spiritual dependence upon God. Our hearts are open and responsive to Him in every situation. When we give thanks in everything, we're acknowledging the sovereignty of God. It's not about giving thanks for everything because let's face it, not every situation is good. However, when we give thanks in everything, we recognize that the circumstances don't dictate our gratitude. Our gratitude shapes our response to the situation. Charles Spurgeon said it best, “When joy and prayer are married, their firstborn child is gratitude.”
Beloved, let's examine ourselves for a moment. Where is our default setting in light of the things we face on our spiritual journey? Are we progressing from faith to faith, or are our responses to life's challenges the same as they were in years past?
Prayer
Father, help us, Lord, to rejoice always, not because life is perfect, but because You are constant and unchanging. Teach us to make prayer a constant companion, a daily conversation with You. Open our eyes to Your hand in every situation, so we can give thanks in all circumstances. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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