1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Believers, don't stop praying.  My grandma used to say, "These are praying times!"  She thought that things were bad in her day, but I am so glad that she is resting at the feet of Jesus and not here to see what is happening in our day.  Even as bad as things look, God is still on the throne.  He still takes care of His children.  He still provides and protects, He still guides and blesses, He still performs the miraculous.  His Holy Spirit is still restraining the power of the evil one, and I know this because the enemy of our souls would have destroyed us already if there were not something preventing him from doing so.  

Believers, keep praying.  God loves to hear from His children. He knows what you need and what you desire; when you pray, you are not giving God any new information.  But when you pray, something is happening on the inside of YOU that will take you through that next trial or that next storm. God knows what you need, and many times, He does it after He has heard you pray.

Believers, while you're praying, thank the LORD for all He's done.  If you are struggling to think of something to thank Him for, start at the cross.  Thank Him that He took your sin on His body, took the punishment that you deserved, died the death that was waiting for you, and defeated death on your behalf. Thank Him, that He made salvation available for you.  Thank Him that He translated you from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light....thank Him that you are no longer on the broad road (Matthew 7:13) that leads to destruction, and that He has prepared a place for you eternally (John 14:2).  That is a lot for which to be thankful.  

Pray and give thanks, believer!  This is the will of God for you. Your life, your health, your family, the heart that is beating in your chest over which you have no control, the breath that you are pulling in and pushing out without even thinking about it, every blink of your eye, every time you smell the sweet smell of rain or you hear a bird chirping in the trees....all of these things are gifts from God.  He deserves our praise.

Believer, take some time to pray today.