40 Favorite Scriptures
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 FAVORITE Scriptures
Day 25 | REJOICE, PRAY AND GIVE THANKS
40 FAVORITE Scriptures
Day 25 | REJOICE, PRAY AND GIVE THANKS
REJOICE, PRAY AND GIVE THANKS
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)
This Scripture – one of my favorites – is about how we should live.
First… we are to “rejoice always.” Now be honest, did your mind start to challenge that verse almost immediately with your “what if” scenarios? I get it because – for instance – being sick does not seem like a logical time to “rejoice always,” right? And yet, even in tough times, we can be happy in our permanent relationship with God through His Son, Jesus!
Next, he says, “pray without ceasing.” Of course, this doesn’t mean to bow our heads and close our eyes; those are just customs of prayer. Prayer is better understood as communication with God, talking to God throughout your day. My wife, Debbie, and I talk to each other throughout the day, every day. We don’t just talk at scheduled times; we just talk as things come up or come to our minds. In the same way, our Heavenly Father would also like to converse with us throughout the day.
Finally, “give thanks.” And not just for the “good things,” but IN everything. Does that mean we give thanks FOR a flat tire? Perhaps not, but we can be thankful that we have a spare or the Auto Club. And who knows if that flat didn’t save us from an accident up ahead? We need to realize that God is at work 24/7 in the world and in our lives. But generally speaking, we are like a bunch of ungrateful, self-centered children waiting for God to do His next miracle for us. I suggest you ask forgiveness for that attitude and start learning to be thankful to Him as a way of life.
And all of the above is “God’s will for us who are in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer: LORD, I repent and ask forgiveness for not DOING these clear, simple verses of Scripture. Help me, Lord, to rejoice always, give thanks in everything and talk to You continuously. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)
This Scripture – one of my favorites – is about how we should live.
First… we are to “rejoice always.” Now be honest, did your mind start to challenge that verse almost immediately with your “what if” scenarios? I get it because – for instance – being sick does not seem like a logical time to “rejoice always,” right? And yet, even in tough times, we can be happy in our permanent relationship with God through His Son, Jesus!
Next, he says, “pray without ceasing.” Of course, this doesn’t mean to bow our heads and close our eyes; those are just customs of prayer. Prayer is better understood as communication with God, talking to God throughout your day. My wife, Debbie, and I talk to each other throughout the day, every day. We don’t just talk at scheduled times; we just talk as things come up or come to our minds. In the same way, our Heavenly Father would also like to converse with us throughout the day.
Finally, “give thanks.” And not just for the “good things,” but IN everything. Does that mean we give thanks FOR a flat tire? Perhaps not, but we can be thankful that we have a spare or the Auto Club. And who knows if that flat didn’t save us from an accident up ahead? We need to realize that God is at work 24/7 in the world and in our lives. But generally speaking, we are like a bunch of ungrateful, self-centered children waiting for God to do His next miracle for us. I suggest you ask forgiveness for that attitude and start learning to be thankful to Him as a way of life.
And all of the above is “God’s will for us who are in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer: LORD, I repent and ask forgiveness for not DOING these clear, simple verses of Scripture. Help me, Lord, to rejoice always, give thanks in everything and talk to You continuously. Amen.