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).
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?
Yesterday, I had the privilege of seeing such a sunset. 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.
The sight of it prompted me to marvel and the majestic nature of our God and open up my heart to Him.
Maybe you have encountered times in which all you can do is stare in awe at a particular moment. The rush of emotions overtakes you in a way that makes you crave God’s closeness. Maybe it is the scene of lovebirds as they say their vows on their wedding day.
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 sipping on a cup of coffee and delighting in its goodness as you have just a few minutes to yourself. Maybe it is a sunrise or sunset.
It's often in those moments that our God meets with us, and we can feel His presence or sense His peace. Being connected to our Creator is like nothing else we will ever experience, and we all crave it! We long for it. We desperately need connection, especially to our Creator!
But what about the times when God feels distant, or we don’t have those “awe-inspiring” moments where we feel submerged in His presence?
What about the times our faith is wavering, or we slip into a pattern of connecting with others hoping they will fill this void within us, only to find that they fall short?
This is where a life devoted to prayer becomes our lifeline. 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?
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. Let’s take a deeper dive into each of them.
Rejoicing in the Lord
If we want to connect with our God, we need to recognize Who we are praying to first. 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.
We honor and show reverence to our God by rejoicing in Who He is (Deuteronomy 13:4). We can do that in praise or song. 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.
Rejoicing in God is the first step and opens the doors of our prayer life. Next time you see a beautiful sunset, soak it in. When you have a special moment with a loved one, choose to realize that God brought you together.
When you meet a goal, give Him the glory. 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.
Talking to God Continually
Having a deeper relationship with God means being in constant communication with Him. Just like you chat with your best friend over lunch and spill the beans about what you are excited about or voicing your concerns. But instead, we can take that all to God — first!
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.
Just like with any relationship, they only grow when we make time for them and give them our love and attention (Thessalonians 5:12-15). We must not only make time for God and give Him our attention, but we have to make Him our first priority.
As we go about our day, we can stay in touch with God by letting Him be a part of it. Conversing with Him about the big and little things. Sharing the pain and sorrow and the joys and blessings.
When we hand over our hearts and invite Him into our lives, we come to a place where we can develop a more meaningful and deeper relationship with Him rather than one that is merely surface level.
Giving Him Thanks
A 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.
Essentially, 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.
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. We fully recognize that we are nothing apart from our God (John 15:5).
As we grow in our relationship with God and see how He is moving in our lives, we are able to realize that His ways are always better, and His plan and purpose for our life is indeed good.
That plan unfolds for us in the gospels when we encounter and meet Jesus, hear of His story, His countless acts of love, and ultimately His sacrificial death, for you and for me. That should cause us to pause and reflect, giving us the opportunity to give God our sincere thanks and praise.
Practicing a Powerful Prayer Life
Once we understand that the power of our prayers is invaluable and that it is vital when it comes to connecting deeply with our Father, it may bring into question how we put it all into practice.
Thankfully, there are several ways we can make our prayer life more powerful and meaningful for us and God.
1. Make prayer a daily priority. As with any relationship, if we want it to grow and thrive, we must invest our time and pour energy into it.
When it comes to our relationship with God, the most crucial of all relationships, we must strive to converse with Him throughout our day. Even if we don’t feel His presence or can’t sense His closeness, we must remind our hearts that He is still with us.
And truth be told, our feelings can hinder us from allowing Him to draw near. So, we must ask God to remove any obstacles that are prohibiting or distracting us from meeting with Him. Then just continue to show up and share our hearts.
2. Dig into His Word. Sometimes it can be unclear what or how to pray. When we find ourselves in this place, lean into His Word.
When we immerse ourselves in God’s Word daily, we find that it not only gives us prompts and direction on how to pray but helps us navigate all the directions in our lives as well.
Stew on a Bible verse a day, take a week to unpack a chapter or book in the Bible, and see where God leads you.
3. Find accountability and support.We were created to be relational and to connect with others, which is why fellowship with others can help us develop a deeper relationship with Christ, therefore improving our prayer life.
Whether you attend a church that helps grow your faith, join a Bible study, or make time to just sit with a close friend over coffee, these all open the door for Jesus to join us (Matthew 18:20).
Closing Thoughts
If we really want to have a life devoted to prayer and earnestly seek the Lord, then we must choose to see Him and meet with Him in every aspect of our lives.
Next time a beautiful sunset is spread across the sky, rejoice in Him. When you have a quiet time on the back porch, seize that moment and talk to Him. And, when you have a precious moment with a loved one that melts your heart, thank Him.
For further reading:
5 Invaluable Tools to Grow Your Prayer Life
Why We Need to Pray for Perseverance?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Charday Penn
This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
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