Skip to main content

Give Thanks In All Circumstances

             Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:16-18) 

            November began yesterday, but yesterday is also when I wrote this. I tend to forget to write “a day ahead.” I’ve already begun the gratitude journal that I mentioned a few days ago, and the only thing I’ll say with regard to these journals is the reminder that my goal is 1000 items for which I’m thankful listed by the end of November. If you want to take the challenge, you can change the number of items or the time period as you so choose.  

            But whether or not you are taking this challenge with me, today’s passage gives us a better challenge. He says to rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. There’s no keeping count! What he says next is the real focus. Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks is God’s will for us. I’ve known people who have struggled with the question of what God’s will is. I can sympathize. It seems to me that a major source of drama in my life has to do with what God wants me to do and/or whether or not I have done it well enough or long enough.

            Paul’s answer to What is God’s will for me? is “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.” If you don’t know what you’re supposed to do about X, rejoice that God does know. Talk to God about it, and thank Him for His direction, for your not knowing, for the opportunity to trust Him… Each answer Paul lists involves communicating with God. You can rejoice and give thanks even while you’re pleading with Him for answers. Rejoicing doesn’t mean feeling no pain. Giving thanks doesn’t mean you’re happy, but that you are content (contained, in control of yourself.)

 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Think About These Things

                 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) This passage is a major challenge for me. Like everyone else, I struggle to keep my thoughts from wandering off into the weeds, then wondering what possible benefits those weeds might have… Sigh. But as a writer, I have to delve at least a little into the ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, and debased. After all, there’s no story if everything’s just as it should be and everyone’s happy. As Christians, there are times when we need to deal with all the negatives, but that makes it even more important that we practice turning our minds by force of attention to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It’s just too easy to get stuck in a swamp. With my...
1 comment
Read more

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more