Prayer and Thanksgiving

I draw encouragement from nature's beauty.  A crisp autumn afternoon where a blue sky is colored by the orange and pink hues of the setting sun, making the turning leaves come alive is a refreshing balm to my soul.  A starry night, where the constellations adorn the great expanse like jewels scattered on black velvet make my heart sing!  Cloudy and foggy mornings, where a light drizzle makes my...hmmm... hair frizzy...sigh...how can I find encouragement in that scene?  I mean, really? 

Yes, really...

It is as simple as Paul tells us:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Rejoice always.  And how do we do that?  By praying continually and by giving thanks in all circumstances.  

Easier said than done?  Well, of course!  Nothing worth anything comes easily.  Character development in our Christian walk is God's priority for our lives.  Have you ever seen a movie or read a book where the moral character of a person is developed by an easy-self-indulgent-nothing-bad-ever-happened-always-bright-and-sunny-life? I haven't.  I haven't seen it in the Bible either.  All the heroes and heroines of the Bible went through their fair share of hardship, disappointment, frustration, sadness, disillusion, pain and suffering as they journeyed along the Great I AM.  Jesus Himself ought to be the greatest example of the reality of pain while on this world.  That's why Paul calls us to rejoice always by praying and thanksgiving. 

How do we ever do this?

I don't know.  All I know is that prayer leads to thanksgiving and eventually to rejoicing.  When we pray consciously, we realize that just the simple act of prayer is miraculous.  The fact that we can pray, communicate with God Almighty, is a realization that should immediately lead us into gratitude.  What is mankind, that God cares for us?  (Psalm 8: 4)  ... that He cares enough to  open a line of communication so we can come to Him and place at His feet all that we are.  Praise You and Thank You, LORD for the gift of prayer!

As we become aware of the blessing of prayer, we realize the intimacy that we are developing with God.  Every time we dial His number, we get closer to Him.  The sense of belonging intensifies.  Our identity as His children grows stronger.  And thanksgiving overflows.  If we get in the habit of going to prayer without ceasing, thanksgiving in all circumstances will follow...even if we don't necessarily feel it, the simple act of saying:  "Thank You, Lord, for another opportunity to trust You" will develop a sense of peace in our troubled heart...and we would begin to see every circumstance as a chance to get closer to Him, and trust Him with the outcome of our situation...leaving Him at the driver's seat...and us, behind, to just go for the ride...in joyful adoration.

Easier said than done?  Of course!  But with the help of the Holy Spirit we can start taking steps towards fulfilling this commandment with the simple discipline of thanksgiving.  There is always something to be thankful for.  Even cloudy and foggy mornings are good for something:  perhaps not for a stroll, but perfect for staying inside and read a while, meditate on His Word and rejoice for the moment of quiet contemplation.

May the Holy Spirit inspire us to rejoice always in prayer and thanksgiving!  Amen!