1st Thessalonians 5:17 says “pray without ceasing”.

16 – says “rejoice evermore” and 18- talks about giving thanks in EVERYTHING.

These are very important verses I think.  No matter what is happening around us we must Pray, Rejoice, and Give Thanks.

Thanks to Jesus for saving our souls, thanks for having a roof over our heads!  There is always much to be thankful for.

One practice I try and do every single day is spend some time (even 5 minutes) giving thanks.  Thanks for the roof over my head, clothes on my back, food in my belly, and shoes on my feet.  Then I expand on that with my thankfulness.  I thank God for all increase in my life and my family and so on.

Having an attitude of “gratitude” at all times brings me so much peace, and learning to do this a few years back has completely changed my life and the lives of those around me.  This attitude of “looking on the bright side”, giving thanks for ALL, it’s infectious.

Stress reduction, peace, and so much more are the reward for having this attitude.  It is “work” and there will always be trying times.  But – I’ve used this in some of these times and it really works and helps and changes the path of your thoughts.

Jesus is the “light of the world” we know, and we are “children of the light”, we walk in light and not in darkness.  So our thoughts should be in light as well.

Then in prayer we should try to pray every decision we make.  God will guide you if you let him, but if you never ask for guidance you won’t get it.

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 – In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.