3 Habits That Lead To A Stronger Relationship With God
Strengthening our faith requires both intentional habits and a commitment to see God at work, as Karin Hadadan shares. Likewise, Rebecca Simon’s Finding God Every Day explains how to deepen your daily bond with Him. Discover His guidance in the devotion below.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
There are only three succinct, powerful commands for Christian living that demonstrate God’s will for each of us. These commands, when combined, form a holistic approach that reinforce one another toward spiritual vitality, connection, and fulfillment.
To ‘rejoice always’ calls for consistent joy, regardless of circumstances. In our culture, we typically seek happiness based on happenings—when things turn in our favor, when fortunes are met, when we get what we want. But to rejoice means to focus on feeling joy, based on God’s presence and purpose, throughout every circumstance in our lives—during waiting periods, challenges, or seasons of isolation.
To ‘pray continually’ suggests an ongoing conversation and awareness of God—conversing not just when things are tough, but also when life feels mundane, slow, beautiful, or fulfilling. It’s the act of maintaining an open dialogue with Him, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, in whatever season you’re experiencing.
To ‘give thanks in all circumstances’ emphasizes expressing gratitude even during moments of suffering or when facing hardship. No matter how difficult it is to give thanks when your world is upside down and it’s the last thing you want to do, it is an act of true faith that demonstrates trust that through those challenges, God is still blessing you in unimaginable ways.
When we practice these commands in our daily lives, we come to realize that our relationship with God can be beautifully simple. He doesn’t ask a lot from us; He simply wants us to remain in a state of joy, stay connected through prayer, and be grateful for His plans—for this is His will for us in Christ Jesus.
Thank you so much for reading our writing. Rebecca Simon is the author of the daily devotional Finding God Every Day: 111 Devotionals For Women Healing Through Faith and the best-selling Let Go, Trust God. If her words spoke to you today, a copy of either book is the kindest way to support her writing and the work we publish at Thought Catalog.
