01 Oct 24 in Twenty-10 Scripture Memory: Verse #19

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

It is a Beeeee-autiful day in Big D! I just have to praise the Lord for a moment…

Wow… what a day, Lord! Glorious, Lord, absolutely glorious!! You have outdone Your Almighty Self again today! Would it be too much to ask You to repeat today tomorrow and for the rest of the week? I promise I won’t become board with too much of a good thing like this particularly beautiful day that You’ve made! What? Move to California?!?!?!!! Uh… never mind.

Back to blogging.

I am not a betting woman, but I’m married to a betting man. He played competitive basketball and baseball in college and was quite the athlete. Good lookin’, too! This many years later he still has that competitive edge to him, and whether he’s playing a pickup game on the boards, shooting free throws or playing the links, he likes to stir it up a little with a bet. Not a big bet; just a dollar here or there, a lunch or dinner… nothing we need to check him into treatment for.

I, on the other hand, do not bet. So, when I say, “I’ll bet you…”, I really don’t have anything in mind except just saying it. I’m just sayin’.

Are you thoroughly confused?

Ask a thousand Christians what they’d want to ask God right now, and I’ll bet the answer you hear most is: “What is God’s will for my life?” In fact, if you want to draw a crowd for any reason, just publicize it with these words:

“Come to our ‘gathering’ tonight and find out what God’s will is for your life!”

You’ll pack ’em in. Guaranteed.

Hey, if we’re honest, that’s probably been the big question simmering in the gray matter of most of our minds at some point: What is God’s will for me? Am I in God’s will? Is what I’m doing right now in my life really God’s will for my life? And on and on we wonder.

So, the thing is we don’t have to wonder. At least not about God’s “revealed will”. Thus the term “revealed”- as in, “Look; it’s in the Book.” God reveals to us what His will is throughout the pages of Scripture; His commands are the way to be in His will, and our obedience to those commands is what keeps us in the center of His will.

First and foremost God’s will is that we love Him and have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. He also commands us to ‘follow’ Jesus and to ‘make disciples’ of Jesus Christ while we are on this earth. As you read and study Scripture, keep your eyes open to the many passages of Scripture that reveal God’s will for you and do the things you already know you are supposed to do.

For today I’ve chosen 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18…
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Paul reveals 3 basic and essential steps (commands) to following God’s will:
1. Be joyful always (be happy in your faith and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually)
2. Pray continually (pray perseveringly, without ceasing, and don’t give up)
3. Give thanks in all circumstances (no matter what the circumstances may be, being thankful and giving thanks to God in everything will help you cultivate an “attitude of gratitude”)

I’ll bet that if you give these 3 commands some serious consideration and faithfully put them into practice in your life, not only will you be walking in God’s will, but you’ll see the rest of God’s plans for you fall into place (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Now that’s a bet I’m not afraid to make… and I’m certain He’ll deliver on!

For His Name and His Fame!
xo – P