The Presence: 21 Day Devotional: Day 10
DAY #10
Key Verse:
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Extended Text:
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24
Reflection:
God’s Word shows us how to handle all of life’s situations, even when they are difficult and/or unsolicited. I Thessalonians 5:16 tells us to “Rejoice always.” Scripture tells us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” So no matter what we face, we can rejoice in all that Jesus has done for us. But if we’re honest with ourselves, sometimes we just don’t want to be joyful. We want to wallow in our circumstances. Even then, we need to choose to be joyful. I Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to “pray continually.” I’m so grateful that we can take anything and everything to God in prayer! His grace and mercy are always available to us. There is nothing that surprises Him or is too big or small to lay at His feet. The more we pray, the more we can walk in His peace and presence.
I Thessalonians 5:18 admonishes us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” What a blessing it is that the verse doesn’t say to give thanks for all circumstances! But in all circumstances, there’s always something to be thankful for! Some days it may just be that you wake up in the morning and have breath in your lungs. And that’s ok! Life is great and life is hard, but we can choose to be thankful even in the smallest things. Just as we need to choose to live for Jesus every day, we need to be intentional with our thoughts and actions.
I Thessalonians 5:18 admonishes us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” What a blessing it is that the verse doesn’t say to give thanks for all circumstances! But in all circumstances, there’s always something to be thankful for! Some days it may just be that you wake up in the morning and have breath in your lungs. And that’s ok! Life is great and life is hard, but we can choose to be thankful even in the smallest things. Just as we need to choose to live for Jesus every day, we need to be intentional with our thoughts and actions.
3 Questions To Consider:
- How can you be more joyful?
- What do you need to be praying more purposefully for?
- What are you most thankful for and have you thanked the Lord recently?
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4 Comments
Lord, help me to remain thankful.
Thank You, Lord, that we can be thankful IN all circumstances but not FOR all circumstances! It truly helps us to focus on Who You are, and know that You know what is happening, and care deeply for us through it all! That is something to be thankful about always!
It is so easy to wallow and complain but God shows us his way is better. When we fix our eyes on Him we can give thanks in the midst of difficult circumstances because we know he is with us helping us and transforming us by his love, grace and strength.
Yes! Choosing to follow Jesus is allowing Him to lead, be my LORD, and transform my mind & heart. As I make that choice every day, I sit in His Presence and there I find fullness of joy in abundance! So when I catch myself being ungrateful or humbling, I stop and ask myself is this from sitting in God's Presence? Is this what rubbed off on me from hanging around Jesus and following Him? The answer is always no. Thanks for this, Ronda. Good stuff.