Friday, June 3, 2011

Be Happy and Thankful

 
Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  
Nehemiah 8:10

 Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
 
 
Let's face it.  Sometimes we're not happy.  
Sometimes we're grumpy.  
Stressed.  
Heartbroken.  
Sometimes evil chases us.
At times we're the evil ones.
And then sometimes we're just plain tired.

The scripture at the top of this post isn't a hokey, pie in the sky, feel good, positive thinking, kind of baloney.

God gives us the strength we need to be joyful always.  He knows that it's not 'natural' in our human bodies to give thanks in all circumstances.  Really?  Expecting us to be thankful when we're battling depression?  Or cancer?  Or children in the midst of their summer screaming, "I'm bored!"  

Do not be grieved, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.  Really.  It's true.


How many times have you wondered, "What is God's will for MY life??"

I know I have.  
(insert whiny voice when asking the question above.  
possibly thrash on the floor in a tantrum. 
not that I would have done that.)

And who knew.  He states it clearly right there in the bible.  
Hmm...  If only I had opened that book sooner!

Be joyful always.
Pray continually.
Give thanks in all circumstances.
 
For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
 
I encourage you to simplify this summer.  It's very easy to want God to drop His master plan in your lap and tell you His will for what job you should take, or what medical treatment you should try, whether you should adopt, make a mission trip, or even spank your child.  It would just be so much easier if He would just tell us what to do!!

And imagine that - He did.


In the middle of the uncertainty - Be Joyful.

Rather than go to Google for answers - Pray and ask Him.

The last might be the hardest.  But if you can look follow Phillipians 4:8 and really focus on 
...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy...
 
You really can Be thankful in all circumstances.
So I challenge you this summer.  To follow God's will for you.  
 
And I would love to hear how it works out for you!!

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