God's Will...

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Writing to the Thessalonians Paul offers three choices for believers to make no matter what's happening in their lives. He says - be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. Any one of these challenges us as we think about our day to day lives. Being joyful always is a challenge because we're being called to express joy always. How is this possible?

Next he says to pray continually which is like saying no matter what let your thoughts go right into conversation with God with everything you're dealing with. Again, how is this possible?

Lastly Paul says to give thanks in all circumstances. Really Paul, in all circumstances? Seems quite impossible to accomplish doesn't it? Even selecting just one of these commands and attempting to live it out appears unreasonable.

However, Paul ends this verse by saying "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I know what you're thinking - great, I've wanted to know God's will for my life and now here it is. Always be joyful, pray without ceasing and be thankful in all situations. Now I don't know about you but I've been through some pretty tough times in my life, so when I read this passage it really catches my attention. Maybe it's caught your attention too.

But I believe God calls us to this way of living for Him for two reasons. First, it really is God's will for our lives. And second, He doesn't expect us to be able to accomplish this on our own. We're given the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, that empowers us to focus our lives on the joy we have in Christ because of His sacrifice for us; empowers us to talk with God at all times about everything that's happening in our lives; and empowers us to realize, even when we don't understand, that God will use all our circumstances for His glory.

So let's submit to God's will for our lives and realize nothing is impossible with God. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Amen.