So what is God’s will for our lives?
Individually we sometimes wonder.
About that job. That relationship, or lack of one. That move where we wonder are we doing the right thing.
Often we have to pray and ‘knock doors’, proceeding in faith through those that open. Sometimes the way forward is not immediately clear and we have to wait for a bit.
But collectively and generally, the Bible does give a few tips.
Like these verses from 1 Thessalonians 5:
‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ (16-18)
Interesting to note too that this letter was from a persecuted Apostle to a church fellowship who were also facing considerable hardship!
What would God desire for such people? What is His will for all His people?
That they refuse to let the opposition steal their God-given joy! Christians are deeply loved and eternally secure ‘in Christ’, let’s not forget it!
We should keep talking to God about everything, for while it may not immediately change the circumstances, it will change us for the better and equip us for the challenge.
And we should practice perpetual gratitude. We should be saying ‘Thank you!’ frequently every day, because this expresses our faith and confidence in what the Apostle Paul declares in the rest of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. Namely, that Jesus will shortly return in power and glory, bring evil to a final end, and gather His beloved Church to Himself!
‘For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.’
(1 Thessalonians 4 v 16-18)
God’s will? Sounds good to me.
May it be done, on Earth, in us, as it is in Heaven!
Individually we sometimes wonder.
About that job. That relationship, or lack of one. That move where we wonder are we doing the right thing.
Often we have to pray and ‘knock doors’, proceeding in faith through those that open. Sometimes the way forward is not immediately clear and we have to wait for a bit.
But collectively and generally, the Bible does give a few tips.
Like these verses from 1 Thessalonians 5:
‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ (16-18)
Interesting to note too that this letter was from a persecuted Apostle to a church fellowship who were also facing considerable hardship!
What would God desire for such people? What is His will for all His people?
That they refuse to let the opposition steal their God-given joy! Christians are deeply loved and eternally secure ‘in Christ’, let’s not forget it!
We should keep talking to God about everything, for while it may not immediately change the circumstances, it will change us for the better and equip us for the challenge.
And we should practice perpetual gratitude. We should be saying ‘Thank you!’ frequently every day, because this expresses our faith and confidence in what the Apostle Paul declares in the rest of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. Namely, that Jesus will shortly return in power and glory, bring evil to a final end, and gather His beloved Church to Himself!
‘For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.’
(1 Thessalonians 4 v 16-18)
God’s will? Sounds good to me.
May it be done, on Earth, in us, as it is in Heaven!
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