My verses for today - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 NIV:
[12] “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. [13] Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. [14] And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. [15] Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
[16] Rejoice always, [17] pray continually, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
[19] Do not quench the Spirit. [20] Do not treat prophecies with contempt [21] but test them all; hold on to what is good, [22] reject every kind of evil.
[23] May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
All of the above is just good stuff, but the focus for me today is the following sentence, which is broken into three verses (for some reason) - [16] “Rejoice always, [17] pray continually, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This is such a mind-set changer… even though I am generally an optimist, I am a far cry from the “rejoice always”! I am not sure how one can do this aside from seeing things constantly from God’s perspective, or from a place of total surrender, like Brother Lawrence. I am much too aware of my own selfish perspective, so much so that I miss God’s perspective most of the time (I think).
The second phrase, “pray continually” is one step in the activity direction, from rejoice always. It is observing and then joining in prayer to what the Lord is doing or wanting to do! Imagine if we had such an awareness all day long,just a constant flow of insight from the Lord, that we respond to in the place of prayer (conversations and proclamations). I am so unaware of what He is doing most of the time, my constant prayer is more like, “Help, I am clueless, where do I start…”
Finally, the heart check of ‘giving thanks in all circumstances’! I absolutely don’t do this! I am quick to complain, quick to get frustrated, quick to lose my peace! I lack patience and with that the Lord’s perspective. I see so much opportunity for growth in this area!
While this reflection might seem negative, almost depressing, I am actually encouraged. I see here the opportunity for growth, for betterment, and the invitation from the Lord to step into His stream! I know the Lord is capable of helping me change, of giving me the strength to grow, to become more like Him. He knows me intimately and knows how to help me, how to encourage me and how to motivate me to change.
This is not some unattainable goal, but one that I can embrace to the best of my ability every day! Could I be more aware of the Lord every day? Surely! Can I check my attitude and ask the Lord to help me see things form His perspective? Absolutely! Can I embrace a joyful outlook as I view the path before me, and this day? I can try my best.
I am convinced the path forward with the Lord is always an invitation to be more like Him, and these few verses, “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances” sound just like I imagine the Lord was like, living amongst us! Oh that I might better represent Him, and live in the place of relationship with Him every day, all day long!
Amen and amen!
