Choosing Joy and Giving Thanks
by Mat Dawson / Student Ministries’ Pastor
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
What is God’s will for my life? Well, the short of it can be summed up in Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica.
1) Be Joyful Always. I know for me at least it’s hard to be mad when I’m happy. What if we made it a continual habit to think about the positive … always. My life might just be a tad more enjoyable and my family might like me a whole lot more. Being Joyful is a decision that I alone can make in spite of whatever is in front of me.
2) Pray Without Stopping. I think that as a culture we really believe that “Amen” means good bye, see ya later, ‘til next time. We forget that God actually never leaves our side and that we can hang out and talk with Him throughout our day. Prayer has been reduced to a few minutes routine where we close our eyes, bow our head and talk, when in reality we can keep our eyes open, keep our heads up and walk.
3) Give Thanks … Always! We need to be in the practice of thanking God for what He is allowing to enter our world. If we truly believe that He has a plan and that He IS LOVE, then we should be excited for what He is about to do in our world. Truly Thankful. For instance, when was the last time that we thanked Him for dying on a cross for our sin? See what I mean. We tend to move along and focus on the negative.
What is God’s will for our lives? To live a joyful life by staying in His presence, being thankful for all that He is up to.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
What is God’s will for my life? Well, the short of it can be summed up in Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica.
1) Be Joyful Always. I know for me at least it’s hard to be mad when I’m happy. What if we made it a continual habit to think about the positive … always. My life might just be a tad more enjoyable and my family might like me a whole lot more. Being Joyful is a decision that I alone can make in spite of whatever is in front of me.
2) Pray Without Stopping. I think that as a culture we really believe that “Amen” means good bye, see ya later, ‘til next time. We forget that God actually never leaves our side and that we can hang out and talk with Him throughout our day. Prayer has been reduced to a few minutes routine where we close our eyes, bow our head and talk, when in reality we can keep our eyes open, keep our heads up and walk.
3) Give Thanks … Always! We need to be in the practice of thanking God for what He is allowing to enter our world. If we truly believe that He has a plan and that He IS LOVE, then we should be excited for what He is about to do in our world. Truly Thankful. For instance, when was the last time that we thanked Him for dying on a cross for our sin? See what I mean. We tend to move along and focus on the negative.
What is God’s will for our lives? To live a joyful life by staying in His presence, being thankful for all that He is up to.