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do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Thanksgiving is an important part of the Christian life.<\/p>\n \u201cCease<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word pau\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto stop\u201d or \u201cto pause.\u201d It is expressed here in the middle voice (action done by the subject to the subject), so the meaning is \u201cto stop myself.\u201d<\/p>\n The words \u201cgive thanks<\/span>\u201d are translated from the Greek verb euchariste\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of eu<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cwell\u201d and a form of charidzomai<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto grant a favor.\u201d Euchariste\u014d<\/em><\/span> carries the meaning \u201cto be thankful or grateful.\u201d It is expressed as a participle; thus it means \u201cgiving thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaking<\/span>\u201d is from the verb poie\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto make\u201d or \u201cto do.\u201d It is expressed here as a present participle in the middle voice. So, it literally means \u201cmaking myself.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201cmention<\/span>\u201d is from the noun mneia<\/em><\/span>, which is from the verb mnaomai<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto remember.\u201d Thus, mneia<\/em><\/span> refers to \u201ca remembrance\u201d or \u201ca recollection.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPrayers<\/span>\u201d is from proseuch\u0113<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of pros<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto or toward\u201d and a form of euchomai<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto make a wish.\u201d Proseuch\u0113<\/em><\/span>, therefore, is a wish or a desire expressed toward God.<\/p>\n In order to get the full impact from today\u2019s verse we must combine it with the previous verse:<\/p>\n Therefore I also, having heard of the faith of those among you in the Lord Jesus, which you show toward all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, making remembrance of you in my prayers.<\/span><\/p>\n As we saw in the previous verse, the church in Ephesus continued to grow, demonstrating their faith to all Christians. This so pleased the Apostle Paul that he continually gave thanks to God for the believers in the Ephesian church.<\/p>\n Paul here demonstrates that he practices what he preaches. He told the church at Thessalonica:<\/p>\n pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.<\/span> (1Thessalonians 5:17-18<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Prayer is a critically important part of our relationship with God. In the New Testament alone, prayer is mentioned more than 130 times. Jesus mentions it more than fifty times and Paul mentions it more than forty times. Jesus is said to be praying about fifteen times and Paul mentions himself praying about fifteen times as well. If it was that important to them, it should be just as important to us.<\/p>\n Many Christians think of prayer as asking God for something. Indeed, we are told to make our requests known to God, but we are also told to thank Him. In fact, giving thanks is mentioned about fifty times in the New Testament. It is far more important than asking for something. Giving thanks demonstrates your recognition that God has already done something for you. It is an active indication of the strength of your faith. How many times have you prayed to God for something and then forgot to thank Him when He answered your prayer? Let\u2019s take some time right now to thank God for what He has already done!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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