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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Choosing To Rejoice, Pray, And Give Thanks In All Things.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT) 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.

INTRODUCTION

Our Joy, Prayers, And Thankfulness Should Not Fluctuate With Our Circumstances Or Feelings. Obeying these three commands - be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks - often goes against our natural inclinations. When we make a conscious decision to do what God says, however, we will begin to see people in a new perspective. When we do God's will, we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful.  [Life Application SB]

COMMENTARY PEARL

   During my last year of junior high, I took a career personality test. As I tallied the results, I discovered my talents and interests pointed toward a vocation in education. Seeing this, my home economics teacher allowed me to visit the third-grade classroom and read stories to the students once a week. Hope filled me as I sat reading to the children circled at my feet. This is wonderful. I've found Jesus's will for my life, I thought.
   Yet, instead of getting a teaching degree, I married young and we started a family. When I began homeschooling, I'd joke that I'd followed my career path, only with a smaller classroom. But, recently, talking with my high-school-aged daughter about her future vocation, I saw Jesus's will for my life had been more about my daily choices than about achieving a specific career. I explained to my daughter that Jesus's will isn't about finding the right spouse or job and then being finished in the journey of following Him. Instead, it's more of a daily decision that includes Choosing To Rejoice, Pray, And Give Thanks In All Things.
   Even when I found myself on a completely different path from what I once hoped for, I could still be in Jesus's will. While a career personality test provided insight, I've learned that Turning To Jesus In Prayer And Thanksgiving Every Day Fills Me With Hope And Allows Me To Be In Jesus's Will Each Day. And that's the best path I could imagine! Tricia Goyer
   Faith Step: Take three minutes to rejoice and then three minutes to pray, thanking Jesus that this is His will for you today. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Delightful Jesus,
   Help me to live in joyful dependence on You! I used to view dependence as a weakness, so I would strive to be as self-sufficient as possible. But I know this is not Your way for me. You designed me to need You continually - and even to rejoice in my neediness. I want to live in harmony with Your intentions for me, trusting that Your way is best.
   The Bible exhorts me to be joyful always and pray continually. There is always Joy to be found in Your Presence! You have promised You will not leave me or forsake me, so I can speak to You at all times - knowing that You hear and You care.
   Praying continually is a way of demonstrating my deliberate dependence on You. Another powerful way of relying on You is studying Your Word, asking You to use it to transform me according to Your will. These delightful disciplines keep me close to You - living in joyous reliance on You. As I delight myself in You more and more, You are glorified and I am blessed.
   In Your wonderful Name, Amen (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17; Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV; Psalm 119:11-12; Psalm 37:4) [Jesus Listens by Sarah Young]

Gracious God,
   As I journey with You today, please help me to thank You all through the day. This practice makes it more feasible for me to pray without ceasing, as the apostle Paul taught. I long to be able to pray continually, and thanking You in every situation facilitates this pursuit. My thankful prayers provide a solid foundation on which I can build all my other prayers. Moreover, it's so much easier for me to communicate freely with You when I have a grateful attitude.
   If I keep my mind occupied with thanking You, I'm less likely to fall into hurtful patterns of worrying or complaining. I've seen that when I practice thankfulness consistently, negative thought patterns gradually grow weaker and weaker.
   A grateful heart opens up the way for me to draw near to You. And Your glorious Presence fills me with Joy and Peace.
   In Your joyous Name, Jesus, Amen (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV; James 4:8 NKJV; Romans 15:13) [Jesus Listens by Sarah Young]

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - How to Be Joyful and Rejoice Always.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210212-0933.html

1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray Without Ceasing.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230929-0933.html

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Building Gratitude Avoids Becoming Bitter.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20231128-0743.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/