阅读经文 

作为信徒，我们被教导应当祷告。但为什么应当祷告呢？因为祷告能使我们与神相交，祂是宇宙的创造者和护理者。神赐给我们生命，并护理着我们的日常生活。我们应当祷告，因为神那里有我们所需要的一切供应，祂希望我们兴盛。我们应当祷告，更重要的是，我们可以在祷告中为着神的所是以及祂的作为献上感恩。

在祷告中，我们认识到我们自己需要全然依赖神。我们很难承认自己完全依赖他人，但祷告会打开我们的心，让我们充分体验到神对我们奇异的恩典和怜悯。

然而，祷告中的感恩不止是个好的想法或建议。正如使徒保罗提醒我们的，它是个命令。我们常常喜乐，不住地祷告，凡事谢恩，就遵行了神在基督里对我们的旨意。

有时我们认为命令是个负担。但遵行这个命令会带给我们莫大的祝福，把我们带到最恰当的位置，使我们在世上爱神，服侍神。

所以，你今天（和日后）祷告时，要花点时间和神谈心，把你的需要告诉祂，感受祂的恩典和怜悯带来的强大力量，从而产生感恩，并藉以塑造你的一切行事为人。

As believers, we are taught to pray. But why should we pray? Prayer brings us into communion with God, the maker and sustainer of the universe. God gives us life, and he sustains our daily living. We should pray because God has everything we need and wants us to flourish. What's more, we should pray because in prayer we can give thanks to God for all that he is and all that he does.

In prayer we recognize our utter dependence on God. It can be hard to admit that we are completely dependent. But at the same time prayer opens our hearts to more fully experience the breathtaking scope of God's amazing grace and mercy for us.

Thanksgiving in prayer is not just a good idea or a suggestion, though. It's a command, as the apostle Paul reminds us. By rejoicing always and praying continually, we obey the will of God for us in Christ.

Sometimes we think of commands as a burden. But obeying this command will bless us beyond measure and put us in the best position for loving and serving God in the world.

So when you pray today (and always), spend time communing with God, ask him for whatever you need, and feel the strong rush of his grace and mercy resulting in a sense of gratitude that shapes all you do.