God instructs us in 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 by saying,
“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
God writes through the Apostle Paul in the imperative which gives these statements the sense of an urgent command for the reader. Rejoice, Pray and Give Thanks, God in Christ Jesus Wills It.
There are instructions which precede these three in the earlier text which could be included here but were not specific to the issue of prayer. God is instructing us assume an attitude toward living that is characterized by Joy, God-Centered Connectedness and Gratitude.
Any clear reading of the Bible will reveal that God is actively instructing disciples. God is saying, live, act and think in ways which produce a life worthy of the relationship He has created. Joy, Prayer and Gratitude are three hallmarks of empowered believers. Our strength and power is determined by how closely we remain connected to God in Christ through prayer.
Just as vegetation needs Sunlight to remain strong and vibrant, we must remain in prayerful connection with God in Christ. A plant will reach for the light if it is not in direct Sunlight. The entire plant will contort and twist until its leaves feel the life-giving rays. We are no different; we starve when we are out of direct "Son-Light".
We are reaching toward God through prayer. We are straining for contact and connection with God through prayer. The real blessing is that God desires to connect with us in this way. As stated earlier, God instructs us to “pray without ceasing.” We can say with confidence that, we need to connect with God in Christ Jesus through prayer which is accompanied on each side by “joy” and “gratitude”.