Rejoice Always, Pray Without Ceasing, Give Thanks 常常喜乐，不住的祷告，凡是谢恩
Author : Ps Andrew Xu
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
There are many challenges facing Christians today. The pandemic situation is still very fragile and we do not know when we would lose the hard-earned freedom we enjoy currently. The economy is also unstable due to the high inflation issue, and we are likely to enter an economic recession in the coming months. The end of the Russia-Ukraine war is still nowhere in sight. In this kind of world, how should Christians respond? Are we filled with fear and resentment?
The scripture clearly describes the response that we can and should have in face of challenges. We are to rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances. How do we rejoice always? With all that is going on, it seems almost impossible to. The secret lies with our identity. This world is not my home, we are just sojourners. Our home is with the Lord! When we know this truth, we will have hope knowing that these challenges are but temporary. With hope, there can be rejoicing. We can rejoice unlike the world because Christians are fundamentally different from others. We can rejoice despite circumstances. The source of this joy is not circumstances, but God’s love and faithfulness.
Not only are we to rejoice, but we are also called to pray unceasingly. As citizens of heaven, we have a mission here on earth. The Lord’s prayer says, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” As Christians, one of the most important duties is to pray, but how much do we pray? Not a lot. When the bible tells us to pray unceasingly, what does it mean? How do we pray unceasingly? To pray unceasingly is to transform your thoughts into prayers. As humans, we think. We cannot escape thinking. A human who does not think is dead. We think if we are alive. Therefore, when we transform our thoughts into prayer, even in thoughts we are praying. Our unceasing thoughts turn into unceasing prayers. When we see something, we pray. When we think of something, we pray. When we remember someone, we pray. Prayer is our constant companion.
When living with joy and praying unceasingly, our hearts will naturally be filled with thanksgiving for the Lord. Dear brothers and sisters, let us move forward with joy and thanksgiving. Let’s go!
文: 许燕杰传道
“要常常喜乐，不住祷告，凡事谢恩；这就是 神在基督耶稣里给你们的旨意。”
今天的基督徒面对着许多的挑战。病毒的情况仍然非常的不稳定，也不知道会不会哪一天又可能失去刚刚得来不易的自由。经济也很不稳定，表面看起来好像没什么事，但因为通货膨胀引起的问题很多，许多的迹象指着今年很可能经济会陷入萧条状态。俄罗斯与乌克兰的战争也都没有缓解的可能。在这样的一个世界，基督徒应该要如何面对呢？我们的心中是否充满惧怕与埋怨？
其实，经文里已经非常清楚的告诉我们要如何面对现今的挑战了。我们要“常常喜乐，不住的祷告，凡是谢恩”。面对着这么多的挑战要如何常常喜乐呢？似乎好像很不容易。秘诀就在于基督徒要清楚的是自己的身份。要知道这世界并非我们永远的家，我们只是寄居而已。我们永恒的家是在上帝那里，我们在世的日子一下子转眼就过去了。当我们知道现在所面对的挑战并不是恒久的时候，我们就有了盼望。有盼望就会有喜乐。我们无法喜乐是因为我们以为没有盼望。因此，有永恒盼望的基督徒与没有永恒盼望的外邦人是有基本上的不同的。当全世界绝望而失落的时候，我们仍然有原因喜乐。这喜乐的原因并不是出于周遭的环境，而是出于神的爱与信实可靠。
我们不但是要常常喜乐，我们也需要不住的祷告。身为天国的子民，我们在世是有任务的。主祷文中“愿你的旨意行在地上如同行在天上”，其中基督徒最重要的责任就是祷告。我们花在祷告的时间有多少呢？很少。当圣经说我们要不住的祷告时，又是什么意思？我们要如何不住的祷告？我们其实可以将我们的思想转化为祷告。人不能不思想，不思想的人是死人。只要我们活着就会思想。因此，当人把思想转化为祷告的时候，意即在思想的同时，也在祷告。不住的思想就转化成了不住的祷告。看到什么东西就祷告，想到什么事也在祷告，记念什么人就为他祷告。祷告成为了我们无时无刻的良伴。
当我们操练常常喜乐的心态和不住祷告的习惯时，我们的内心就会自然的生出感恩的心，充满对神的感恩。亲爱的弟兄姐妹，让我们一起带着喜乐与感恩前进吧。Let’s go!