Be happy in your faith and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually always; Be unceasing in prayer praying perseveringly; Thank God in everything no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks, for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus the Revealer and Mediator of that will. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18, Amplified Bible

1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 clearly states part of God’s will for our lives: He wants us to be happy, joyful, and thankful in our faith. He wants us to enjoy the life He has given us, not mope around the planet saturated with fear, anxiety, and depression.  The question is, “How?” How do we develop an habitual attitude of optimism? The answer is found in verse 17: persistent prayer.

There is an old saying which goes:

The people you associate with and the books you read will be who you are in five years.

This proverb is absolutely true, and so it follows that the more we associate with God, the more like Him we will become. God is the source of happiness, joy, thankfulness, peace, love, understanding, and everything else in this life that is virtuous. If we persistently, continually speak with Him in prayer – and then allow Him to persistently, continually speak to us through His Word – then these attributes of God will become more and more our own as our relationship with Him deepens each day.

Any time you are filled with discontent, sorrow, and bitterness, understand that the cause of such emotions has nothing to do with your circumstances. It has everything to do with your relationship – or lack thereof – with God. Replace your occasional prayer life with continuous prayer and Bible study, and you’ll quickly notice happiness, joy, and thankfulness filling your soul, no matter what your circumstances in life are.

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