Verse of the Day 11/18

1 Thessalonians 5:17pray without ceasing,   English Standard Version (ESV)

Okay, how many of you can say that you were able to memorize yesterday's verse - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Rejoice always" (ESV).?  A bigger question might be how many of us were able to put it into practice in our lives, and can we keep it going?  For today's verse we'll move onto another short verse in Paul's benediction  to the Thessalonian church and to us, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "pray without ceasing".  It is something that we can do to help us "rejoice always".  One of the ways we can do this it to count our blessings, doing it as a prayer of thankfulness to God.

When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

The verse is not about praying nonstop, every waking minute.  That would be impossible, but it does speak to persistent, regular prayer.  These can be prayers of thanksgiving, prayers for our needs, prayers for relationships, our families, for help, provision, for our church and our nation. 

If we put today's memory verse into action, day by day in persistent prayer, may our hearts become like that of the Psalmist in Psalm 88.  We can do it in confidence knowing that He is still listening and He does hear our prayers.

Psalm 88:1-2 O Lord, God of my salvation,

    I cry out to you by day.
    I come to you at night.
² Now hear my prayer;
    listen to my cry.    New Living Translation (NLT)

Can we commit today's verse to memory?

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Thessalonians 5:12-19New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul's Final Advice

¹² Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

¹⁴ Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

¹⁵ See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.