“Prayer is the power by which that comes to pass which otherwise would not take place.”

Andrew murray, with christ in the school of prayer

Please read the first blog post entitled “Why Fast?” This explains what fasting is and why we follow Jesus in this spiritual discipline as together we seek the heart of God.

Each day during our 21 Days, we will focus on one part of the ACTS prayer acronym – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. We will spend between 3-5 days on each part of the ACTS prayer acronym. Each devotion will take less than ten minutes of your time.

We want to encourage you to grab a journal or a notebook – something to write on as you walk through each devotional. Yes, it will add a few minutes to the time it takes to do the devotion, and it will also deepen your experience and shape your walk with God for years to come. This journal or notebook will be a keepsake to remind you of God’s faithfulness during this challenging season for all of us.

Thanksgiving

Engage the Word

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 

17 pray without ceasing, 

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

It isn’t feasible that these commands (vv.16-17) be interpreted as a general exhortation to Christians to ‘be happy in your faith at all times’, since happiness cannot be turned on and off like a tap. But biblical joy is different. We would be wiser to understand this instruction as meaning ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’. Then it immediately reminds us of many Old Testament commands like the Venite, ‘Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord’, and the Jubilate, ‘Shout for joy to the Lord’. In other words, Paul is issuing not an encouragement to be happy but an invitation to worship. Biblically joyful worship. (Remember “heroic endurance”?)

We cannot of course thank God ‘for all circumstances’, including those that are evil and displeasing to Him; but we can and should thank him ‘in all circumstances‘ or ‘whatever happens’

We may not always feel like praising, praying or giving God thanks. Our circumstances often don’t bring us to feel like it. Yet we are called by God to do these very things. Why? Because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (18b). This statement clearly belongs to all three preceding commands. It is God’s will, most clearly seen and expressed in Jesus Christ, whenever His people meet together for worship, and whatever their feelings and circumstances happen to be, that there should be rejoicing in Him, praying to Him and giving Him thanks for all of His wondrous works.

Reflect on the Truth

1. Think about some of the difficult circumstances you are either currently experiencing, or have recently experienced, that can make gratitude and thankfulness seem difficult.
2. Now, reflect on the difference between thanking God ‘in all circumstances’ vs thanking God ‘for all circumstances.’
3. Take a few moments to thank God for leading you into His will for your life – even in the face of difficult circumstances – and for the biblical joy that empowers you to be grateful ‘whatever happens.’

Depend on the Spirit

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the deeper longings, desires or motives in your heart that those thoughts are pointing to. (For example: you may write down, “It feels impossible at times to be joyful and thankful in all circumstances. I can’t comprehend or do this on my own, and I need your help.”) The Lord can help us discern the path forward – through His word, His Spirit, His people.

For Prayer

Today, pray for the families affected by the recent shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, TN. Pray for comfort in their grieving the loss of three elementary school children and three faculty members. Pray specifically for the families of the six victims: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney (all age 9); school head Katherine Koonce (60); substitute teacher Cynthia Peak (61); and school custodian Mike Hill (61).

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Content from these devotionals has been adapted from various resources, including The Bible Speaks Today commentary series by John Stott, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary by Derek Kidner, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary by Tremper Longman and others.