“Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ TPT

Reading this scripture passage in any version moves me, but The Passion Translation paints such a beautiful stroke of color over the words.

Let joy be your continual feast.

Joy is not a momentary emotion. Joy is continual. Just as we enjoy our favorite meal, and then the delicious leftovers for days after, joy should be feasted on! It should invade every part of our lives and affect everything we do.

Make your life a prayer.

A prayer is an action. Webster defines prayer as “an earnest request”. Imagine living your life earnestly, like each moment matters! Just like each precious word spoken out to God in prayer, our lives should reveal intention and purpose.

And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.

Be always giving thanks in the trials, the tolerable and the hallelujahs. As we approach life in a spirit of thanksgiving, we are living out God’s plan for us.

By Jesus dying on the cross and taking on our sin, we can stand blameless in God’s sight if we give our lives to Him. We then are given gifts of joy and thanksgiving to live out each day with deeper meaning and purpose.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with meaning, and don’t forget to tell others how grateful you are to have them in your life!