"Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks”
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Have you ever wondered what God’s will is for your life? When I was in college, this was a big topic of conversation for the Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship Group in which Cathy and I were members. People were reading books on how to discover the will of God for them. They were preoccupied with trying to discover what major God wanted them to pursue; what career God wanted them to have; where God was calling them to live after college; and who did God want them to marry.
This is typical for college students. Especially for those of us at a place like UC Berkeley where there were so many options to explore. However, I don’t remember anyone saying, “I have discovered that God’s will for my life is to ‘rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.’” Looking back, I think if we had figured this out, everything else would have fallen into place.
No matter what season we find ourselves in life, there is still the nagging question, “What is God’s will for me?” And no matter what season we find ourselves in, the answer is still the same: God’s will for us is to “rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.” If we do this, God’s will for the other areas in our life will become clear to us.
Thanksgiving is one of the reminders that God gives us to stop what we’re doing, turn to Jesus, and say “thank you” for all that He is doing in our lives. Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, we can give God thanks because Jesus is always with us. Even in the worst of circumstances, He is holding us close and bringing good out of our suffering.
Thanksgiving is over and the Season of Advent is upon us. Even so, we can still live our lives according to God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks. This is how to live in the will of God.
In Christ,
Pastor David
Reminder: Pledge Dedication Sunday is December 3. We will joyfully, prayerfully, and thankfully dedicate our 2024 Pledges to God during the worship services. Please bring your pledge cards with you. Pledge cards will also be available in the pew racks.
