Giving thanks to God in every circumstance allows us to surrender it all, knowing that we can’t do this life and live abundantly without Him navigating it. Paul shares with the church at Thessalonica that in order to connect deeper with the Lord, we need to posture our hearts for prayer and approach Him with a willing attitude.Ī prayerful life is one that places our needs and desires in front of Jesus, asking Him to intervene and give us the desires of His heart.Įssentially, putting God in charge of our hopes, dreams, wants, and needs as well as our pain, hurt, and sorrow, all while giving Him thanks in each and every circumstance. But instead, we can take that all to God - first! Just like you chat with your best friend over lunch and spill the beans about what you are excited about or voicing your concerns. Having a deeper relationship with God means being in constant communication with Him. In time, whether you are experiencing happiness or hardships in this life, you will be able to rejoice in the Lord and for His faithfulness and promises to see you through each and every season. When you meet a goal, give Him the glory. When you have a special moment with a loved one, choose to realize that God brought you together. Next time you see a beautiful sunset, soak it in. Rejoicing in God is the first step and opens the doors of our prayer life. We can also do that in delighting in the blessings He has so graciously bestowed unto us or taking in the beautiful sights around us. We honor and show reverence to our God by rejoicing in Who He is ( Deuteronomy 13:4). While we can have a personal relationship with God, and He is a loving and compassionate Father that knows us intimately, we must remember that He deserves our utmost respect and honor. If we want to connect with our God, we need to recognize Who we are praying to first. Let’s take a deeper dive into each of them.
Great question! I’ve asked that myself several times, and I’ve discovered (in my own prayer life) that there are three parts mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 that have helped me develop a deeper way to connect with our Father. This is when we place our hearts, hurts, and hang ups at the feet of Jesus and ask for Him to draw near and revitalize our faith! But what does a prayer life look like exactly? This is where a life devoted to prayer becomes our lifeline. We desperately need connection, especially to our Creator! Being connected to our Creator is like nothing else we will ever experience, and we all crave it! We long for it. It's often in those moments that our God meets with us, and we can feel His presence or sense His peace. Maybe it is sipping on a cup of coffee and delighting in its goodness as you have just a few minutes to yourself.
Maybe it is the whisper of the wind as it meets the leaves and produces a pretty song as you hike along a winding trail. Maybe it is the scene of lovebirds as they say their vows on their wedding day. The rush of emotions overtakes you in a way that makes you crave God’s closeness. Maybe you have encountered times in which all you can do is stare in awe at a particular moment. The sight of it prompted me to marvel and the majestic nature of our God and open up my heart to Him. While it was not taken in quietly by any means because we were coming home from a softball tournament and the car was jam-packed with rowdy kids, I still felt a sense of peace wash over me. Yesterday, I had the privilege of seeing such a sunset. Have you ever seen a breathtaking sunset that makes you pause and reflect on just how beautiful this life can be and how incredible our God is? 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).
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