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Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Listen: 1 Thessalonians 5

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

Paul has a close and affectionate relationship with the church in Thessalonica, having founded the church during his second missionary journey. Paul writes a heartfelt letter to this group of Jesus followers, instructing them on what it meant to follow Jesus amid the trials and pains they were experiencing. He includes these words about prayer and praise. Rejoicing, praying, and thanking God are to be a regular and consistent part of believers’ lives. These were rhythms of the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42-47), and they were to be a rhythm for them as well.

Prayer and praise should be a regular, consistent part of our lives as well. Though there is benefit to having a structure to our prayer life (praying at specific times, in specific locations), prayer can and should be incorporated into every corner and aspect of our lives. This might mean praying for someone who is going through an especially hard season when you meet them in the grocery aisle. Or it might mean texting a prayer to a loved one. Regular prayer could even mean praying with a friend while you’re out golfing. All of life presents an opportunity to pray.

TODAY: This week, find opportunities to make prayer a regular part of each day. Look for opportunities to pray with someone at times and places you wouldn’t normally think to pray. You are called to pray continually. Let your prayer and praise be a consistent part of our lives and a blessing to those around us.