I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Tired. Cranky. Summer sinus cold. Struggling to find something to be grateful for. John Ortburg, in his book Soul Keeping, suggests thinking of something you are thankful for before you get out of bed each day. He calls this “practicing gratitude”. This particular day, I wasn’t practicing gratitude very well.
Then, I remembered I had been memorizing 1 Thessalonians 5:16 -18 “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This has got to be THE ONE scripture that is impossible to do! How can I rejoice always, pray without ceasing and always give thanks?? Can it be done??
Silently I climbed out of bed to dig deeper into God’s word. Settling into my favorite chair, cup of coffee in hand and favorite crocheted afghan around my legs, I began to study the scriptures.
Rejoice. To delight (charm, enchant, captivate) in God’s grace. To be captivated with God’s grace.
Always. Pray. Talk to God. Without ceasing. Don’t stop!
Give thanks. Eucharisteo, literally thankful for God’s good grace. In everything. All circumstances, good or bad.
God’s will. His preferred will. 
Pondering this information, I plucked at a loose thread on the afghan. Coming out of my reverie of rejoicing always, I noticed the beautiful stitches. They were intricately entwined. I knew if I pulled the loose piece of yard, it wouldn’t come out, because the threads were so tightly woven together.
Then I realized God’s word – especially 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – were like the yarn in my afghan. Interwoven. I can’t rejoice always, without praying and giving thanks. I can’t pray without ceasing unless I rejoice and am thankful in all circumstances. These three verses were knit together as tightly as my afghan.
I studied the crocheted afghan closely. It looked like it was made with one single thread of yard. Each stitch built on the single thread until a full afghan was created. One thread also holds these three verses together: In Christ Jesus. Without Christ in me, I can’t rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in everything.
And just as each stitch in the afghan builds on one thread, each of these scriptures builds on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ.
I wrapped the afghan around me, feeling safe and content in its warmth. I will wrap God’s word around me feeling safe and joyful as I go about my day, rejoicing, praying and giving thanks in all my circumstances!
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What a great message of truth, Ellen! I’ve never thought of those verses in this way before. What wonderful insight. I will surely think of this every time I read this passage. In Christ–the only way all three are possible! Thanks, Ellen.
Thanks for stopping by Sabra! Thank you for your comments!
Beautiful insight, Ellen! Your thoughts remind me of a book I’m reading by Ann VosKamp, 1000 Gifts. I love how you use the analogy of comparing this message to your afghan. Lovely.
Thank you Abby! I love Ann VosKamp!
I appreciated the connection between the thread on the afghan and Jesus Christ. Lovely image!
Thank you! Thanks for stopping by!
AMEN! Beautiful, Ellen! I also like Ann Voskamp!
Hey neighbor! Thanks for stopping by!
Ellen, you are so gifted in your ability to create a visual for others! Thank you for using this God-given talent and sharing your journey with us… What an awesome way to look at ordinary things around us and to see them as a reminder of the One who holds us all together! We are so blessed to be able see His hand at work through your penned words 🙂 Looking forward to your next insightful revelation <3
Aw, Debbie, thanks so much! God is so good, to show me He is always the Splash of Flash in my Ordinary, every day life!
Oh how I love this! I love that you shared how we need to do all three aspects of that verse – it’s the only way it can be done! And that chair and blanket… that would be my favorite place too! Sharing a cup of coffee with you today over at Holley’s place!
Thank you Karrilee! Thanks so much for stopping by and having coffee!
I love your post, Ellen! Beautiful insight. I find it so amazing how God reveals His truths to us in ways we never saw before. He continues to enlighten us to move us deeper in our relationships with Him! Thank you for this encouragement and for your openness to share your life! Hugs to you!
Thank you sweet Julie! Sending you an e-mail right now!
Love how you’ve illustrated this verse – that praying, being thankful and praising God in all circumstances are as intertwined as the thread in a blanket. Beautiful!
Thank you Kathryn! I appreciate you stopping by!
Only getting back now to finish off visiting from Verse by Verse link up and am so glad I did get back. Loved your interpretation and how you can to see it.
Thanks so much for stopping by!