There are three rapid-fire Bible verses that are easily quoted, slapped on coffee cups, and applied individually. These verses are, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Each phrase is listed as an individual verse, but together they make one cohesive statement. The will of God in Christ is that rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving go hand in hand.
In our study on prayer, we have examined adoration and confession. Today we will look at what a prayer of thanksgiving is and how it stems from adoration and confession.
The Root of Prayer
Thanksgiving is often approached as blessing lists, particularly in the month of November. This is a great way to remind yourself that everything in your life is a gift from God. My kids and I write what we’re thankful for on construction paper feathers every year and tape them to a cardboard turkey. I love this tradition, but honestly, that’s what it is: tradition coupled with some discipline versus a lifestyle.
A lifestyle of thanksgiving is rooted in adoration and confession. Adoration acknowledges who God is and what he has done. The holy Creator of the universe lavished sacrificial love upon us in order to save us from eternal death and become our Father. When we move from mental acknowledgment to a heartfelt reaction to who God is and what he has done, then whether we are in good or bad circumstances, we can give thanks because we recognize that God is in control.
Thanksgiving is also rooted in confession because confession admits that nothing we are and nothing we have is of our own merit. The only thing we bring to the table is brokenness. It is by the mercy and grace of God that we can find joy in a broken world.
At the end of his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul gives them several charges on how to conduct their lives. His purpose is for believers to stand strong in encouragement, faithfulness, and godliness so that God may fully sanctify their whole selves in preparation for Christ’s return. Rejoice, pray, and give thanks are in the middle of this charge.
Rejoice Always
Rejoice can be defined as an expression of gladness and even thriving. Peter tells us to “rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13) I don’t know many people who find real delight in suffering. In truth, there are few who even find true delight in the easier times of life. Humanity intensely wrestles with discontentment, fear, greed, and more. So, then, how can we truly rejoice?
Joy leads to thanksgiving when our hearts are transfixed on who God is and what he has done. Jesus says to rejoice because our reward is great in heaven and our names are written there (Matt. 5:12, Luke 10:20). Paul tells us to rejoice in hope (Rom. 12:12). Our hope is beyond earthly measure. If Jesus is our Savior, God our Father, and the Holy Spirit indwells us, then whether we are celebrating a milestone or in the ICU, we can continuously rejoice because our security, our hope, is in a home with a firm foundation whose designer and builder is God (Heb. 11:10).
Pray Without Ceasing
I love when this verse is written in beautiful script on the cover of a notebook. It reminds me of something I’m called to do and even prompts me to want to open that notebook and journal my prayers. However, I have struggled with what praying without ceasing means. I can’t pray while I’m asleep. I’m not praying while having a conversation. So, how do I pray without ceasing if I’m constantly doing things that make conscious prayer impossible?
At the end of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul charges them to put on the whole armor of God. He tells them to be clothed with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and God’s Word. This armor is necessary to stand against the powers of evil. After Paul says to be equipped with the Word of God, he immediately says “praying at all times in the Spirit.”(Eph. 6:18)
Paul does not expect the Ephesians to walk around with their eyes closed bumping into walls because they are non-stop praying. Neither does he want them to be passive participants in conversation or miss out on sleep due to continual mutterings of prayer. Rather, prayer is meant to equip believers to be alert to evil, persevere for the sake of Christ, and make intercession for others.
Praying without ceasing is a life devoted to actively conversing with God. Going to God for help, acknowledging his presence, giving thanks in all circumstances, and interceding on another’s behalf should all be regular conversations woven throughout our daily lives.
In Everything Give Thanks
Paul does not command us to give thanks for everything. Heartbreak, cancer, death, those aren’t things we are going to be doing happy dances over. Paul’s charge is that in the middle of every circumstance, good or bad, to give thanks to God. Thanksgiving recognizes God’s sovereignty and faithfulness in spite of our circumstances.
According to Tim Keller, “thanksgiving is a subcategory of praise.”
“Thanksgiving is praising God for what he has done, while ‘praise proper’ is adoring God for who he is in himself… Thanksgiving for a blessing automatically draws our mind toward the attributes and loving purposes of the God who has done the blessing. Praise for God’s love and goodness transforms effortlessly into thanksgiving for all the examples of his goodness in our life.”
Keller, Timothy. Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God. Viking, 2014 (p. 195).
The Will of God
God’s will is not a huge mystery. His desire is for man to know him and to love him. When we live a life of rejoicing, we are acknowledging that we belong to God. He holds everything together and works all things for the good of his people.
God wants to be in active communication with his people. He achieves this through prayer and the reading of his Word. This is why praying in the Spirit directly follows being equipped with the Sword of the Spirit in Ephesians.
Finally, God desires for man to acknowledge that He knows all things and all things are held together through him. Prayers of thanksgiving extend far beyond lists of blessings. Thanksgiving is a posture of surrendered worship.
