Pray continually and give thanks…
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is “thank you,” it will be enough.”
Meister Eckhart
As we come close to the end of another year, this is a good time to pause and look back on God’s goodness to us, and to express our gratitude. I have been reflecting on Paul’s exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to 18 to “rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This is a hugely significant passage. Paul signals its weight in two ways.
First, he delivers these commands in the Greek imperative tense. It is hard to capture this in English but it strongly underlines the urgency. Bill Mounce, author of the most widely used textbook on Biblical Greek, puts it like this: “There is no more forceful way in the Greek language to tell someone to do something than a simple imperative… especially when… the one giving the command sees himself as an authority figure. He expects those addressed to do exactly as he has ordered.” *
Paul is not offering a suggestion. He is using the strongest language he can.
Second, Paul makes it clear that this is no less than God’s will for our lives! If you want to live out God’s will, this is where you begin.
Right in the middle of the exhortation to rejoice and give thanks is the command to pray continually. To have joy in all circumstances (a correct perspective on our lives in the context of the great story we are part of, and the glorious God at work in it all) is possible when we are in constant communion with our God, when we learn to “practice the presence of God” throughout our days.
J. B. Lightfoot said it like this: “It is not in the moving of the lips, but in the elevation of the heart to God, that the essence of prayer consists.”
Continuous prayer also helps us cultivate gratitude. Practising gratitude is an act of rebellion against a culture centred around generating discontent. Gratitude is a muscle we can grow, it’s an art we can cultivate, it’s a practice we can develop. The science around the power of gratitude has been well studied (check out this short video that gives you a glimpse of its transformative nature).
One of the masters of this was Matthew Henry, the legendary Bible commentator. In the 17th century he was once robbed and had all his money taken. The next day he wrote in his diary:
“Let me be thankful.
First, because I was never robbed before.
Second, because although they took my wallet, they did not take my life.
Third, because although they took my all, it was not much.
Fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.”
Perhaps some of us could manage to be grateful for the first two points, but the third or especially the fourth? How many of us could use such an ugly event to celebrate our own clear conscience and innocence? Here was a man with an incredible heart of gratitude!
Numerous times this year I have been flying back to Napier after a 24-7 trip, and all I can do is pray “Thank you God” over and over. I have been overwhelmed with gratitude. The depth, humility and passion of the church leaders I spend time with, the desire to partner together in unity, the local and national initiatives bubbling up, the hunger for God. There is so much to be grateful for! God is doing something beautiful in our midst. Open Heaven events throughout the country, the Pentecost Prayer Initiative, prayer room usage surging throughout the country, a circuit board of relationships building with a vision to see God’s Kingdom come here in NZ. Thank you Lord!
So take a moment now. What are two or three things you can thank God for today? And as we step into a busy season, let’s encourage one another to cultivate joy, deepen our prayer life, and practise gratitude for God’s abundant blessings in our lives.
*https://www.billmounce.com/newtestamentgreek1/exegetical-insight-chapter-33