BETWEEN TWO CITIES

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, the Apostle Paul encourages us to “pray without ceasing.” While this is not a literal instruction to do nothing but pray 24/7, it is an encouragement to be aware of God’s presence, and talk with him throughout the day in your inner man with petition and supplication, with thanksgiving.

This little prayer of thanksgiving, the March 26, 2021 Daily Prayer in the Phoenix, Arizona newspaper, the Arizona Republic, is a good one, thanking God for hearing our off-the-cuff prayers, if we have the presence of the immanent God in mind:

“Lord, in the midst of our day’s business, we thank you for receiving our inwardly uttered prayers. Amen.”

Here is a familiar comforting Scripture, words of the Apostle Paul, that connects thanksgiving with prayers of petition and resulting peace. This is a memory verse of mine that I frequently turn to if I am feeling a spot of bother.

. . . do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (English Standard Version)

Then there is this verse from Paul’s letter to the Colossians, Chapter 3, verse 17, that is also a helpful verse for me, a reminder prayer:

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17 (English Standard Version)

I continue to repeat this scripture to myself and give thanks to God, when I go about my business each day, like when I am pushing the grocery shopping cart to the racks in the parking lot after shopping, something that seems like a chore, though less so after so many times.

Years ago I did not put the grocery carts back in the racks in the lot. My rationale was that I was too busy, or this would make jobs for young people. But I realize now I was not too busy and was just being lazy. As this Scientific American article points out, the grocery store cart gathering employees prefer that you return the carts to the racks.

Click here The Reasons People Don’t Return their Shopping Carts – Scientific American