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]
i have often heard the question–”what is the will of God for my life?” and we think the answer is some sort of ‘optimal path’ one that tells us what college to go to, what career path to choose and who to marry. by thinking this way, we make ourselves the main character of our movie, where every line is written for us to find a path that is safe, comfortable and normal.
anyone who has read the bible knows that God’s path isn’t safe, comfortable and normal.
God acts for his name’s sake and for his glory–he accomplishes his will for his purposes:
for my name’s sake i defer my anger, for the sake of my praise i restrain it for you, that i may not cut you off. Behold, i have refined you, but not as silver; i have tried you in the furnace of affliction. for my own sake, for my own sake, i do it, for how should my name be profaned? my glory i will not give to another. [isaiah 48:9-11]
i, i am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and i will not remember your sins. [Isaiah 43:25]
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. [habakkuk 2:14]
so for the followers of Christ, what is God’s will for us? an answer is found here in 1 thessalonians 5:
to rejoice always–believers are to overflow with joy–we are to be the most joyful of people, we experience the joy of encouragement in the Lord here and now, and get to look forward to the everlasting pleasures that are at God’s right hand in Christ:
you make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. [psalm 16:11]
to pray without ceasing–what is your thought as you wake up in the morning and go to bed at night? how do you go throughout your day, praying for opportunities to share the gospel, and praying for those around you who don’t know the gospel? as marc stated on wednesday: ‘prayer heightens awareness’ as you spend the day walking in the Spirit, you will grow in your awareness and pursuit of the lost and hurting!
to give thanks in all circumstances–oh! how we have been blessed with the so many good things from God–some of those good things are affliction and suffering (see isaiah 48:9-11, above) how often are we thanking the Lord for all of the blessings and lessons he is teaching us?
every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [james 1:17]
if we really want to align ourselves to the will of the Lord, we will be obedient to walk in his ways, we will seek to transform our minds so that we aren’t asking “what is God’s will for my life, how can God serve me?” but instead, to renew our mind through his revealed will in the word:
i appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [romans 12:1-2]
~ce