“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks.”  (1Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Thessalonia is a harbour city in northern Greece.  On Paul’s second missionary journey, he established a new Church there in 50 A.D.  Most of the converts were gentiles.  The other non-believing Jews saw Paul’s successful evangelization and plotted with the town’s crooks and scoundrels to drive Paul out of the city and away from the new Church he founded.

After Paul arrived in Corinth, he heard news that despite being oppressed, the new Christians in Thessalonia remained steadfast in their faith; however many of them were not able to give up their habits of debauchery and laziness.  Paul urged them, “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” (1Thessalonians 5:14)

In order to help the new Christians live life more wholesomely, Paul instructed, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks.”

The foundation of “rejoicing” is to “be loved”-“let yourself be loved by God”; To “pray” is to constantly remain in contact with God; we “give thanks” because we believe in God’s love for us.  When we live our lives in this way, our bad habits will naturally diminish.