Hello, thank you for visiting my blog and spending a few moments to read this post. I hope you are encouraged by His Word.

I was sitting in my husband’s chair the other morning reading a devotional and this portion of Scripture popped out of the page:

“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 ‭ESV‬‬

It’s amazing how this really sums up everything we will ever need in life.  

Rejoice always ~ (be happy and hopeful). I can rejoice because God always answers my prayers, all of them! He answers them His way and in his time! Honestly, His answers always turn out better than what I asked for.  And because I have a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11) and know that all things work together for my good (Rom. 8:28), I can rejoice in the fact that He always has my best interest in mind. 

Pray without ceasing ~ (talk with God, regularly). Thankfully, this doesn’t mean that we have to be on our knees all day. That’s not realistic. God doesn’t drive us, He leads us, gently.  Praying unceasingly is more of a state of our heart and our mind.  Think of it this way, it’s the same as if you had someone in your life whom you have many things in common and enjoy talking with anytime.  It’s a beautiful gift to have someone in your life who you can completely be yourself with and who accepts and loves you unconditionally.  Talking to God is truly this simple and it is majestic at the same time!

We can talk with Him all day in our hearts. He listens and understands us.  He knows us deeper than we know or understand ourselves. Plus, it’s not like He just listens then walks away uninterested. He allows us to be ourselves wholeheartedly then guides us in our decisions. But just as with anyone else, the conversation needs to be two-ways (a dialogue).  We talk to him (in prayer) and He speaks to our hearts through His Word.  Just as the Scripture that inspired this post. 

Give thanks in all circumstances ~ (be always grateful). Notice how God is telling us to give thanks in all circumstances. Not for all circumstances.  When we go through a trial or disappointment, the easiest thing to do is immediately speak negatively and begin to complain or begin to vent to someone who can’t fix it. We talk too much and start saying things that only makes us feel worse afterwards.  Believe me, I’ve done this many times.  God is pleased when we turn to Him first. He then rewards us with His amazing grace and peace. 

So today let’s Rejoice, Pray and Give Thanks…in all circumstances!

Blessings and peace.