Joy & Thanksgiving

Paul gives us a one of the foundational teachings on prayer in the bible. From here, we could teach a series on different ways to pray. Not because different types of prayer may suit certain people, but rather of different ways of how God invites us to engage with him. Imagine if I spoke to my wife in only one way. Like if I only spoke to her about logistics and function of our home. She’d quickly feel distanced, disconnected and even perhaps unloved by me. Instead, we laugh and enjoy each others company, talk about life, dreams, we remember memories. We have hard discussions, repent together, grieve together. A whole experience of the other. That is what prayer should be and what we are hoping P&W nights like tonight will help cultivate for us.

I want to focus on two things Paul writes for us from this passage.

Rejoice- always

The first, opening line of this section is a call to rejoice, always- again I say rejoice! Paul speaks these words to a group of believers who were experiencing harsh persecution. Paul himself was also under the same experience. What governs Paul’s joy in this matter is the reason for his joy- REJOICE in the LORD. Joy in the LORD, standing on and holding on to His character and what He has done, is the reason and cause for joy.

Secondly, joy in His faithfulness encourages us to come before the LORD and lay at His feet our prayers, our supplications & our requests, however, Paul pointedly says, do so...

with Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving reminds us of what Has already been done. Thanksgiving founds our hope on the faithfulness and trustworthiness of who He is. Also, it puts our praise where it belongs- to the one who does exceedingly more than we could hope and ask. He draws out our remembrance, of what He has already done.

Joy and thanksgiving are intimately, intertwined. Before we go and ask of Go anything, let us first, in everything, respond in joy and thanksgiving.