God's expectations of how we respond to situations

[Ronda]

In these three short verses God lays out what He expects of His children - we know obedience is commanded but in our responses.
"Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NCV)

I don't find it possible to always be happy - there are simply too many terrible things that happen in this world. But joy is different. Joy is that deep-rooted confidence that no matter what seems to be true - God is still in control, watching over us in love so we can hold on to joy even in the midst of pain. The encouragement to continually is a life-changing challenge. We read in Genesis that Adam and Eve walked and talked with God. They had no specific prayer time as all of life was prayer, open communion with God. When they rebelled against God's command and ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they suddenly saw what they looked like apart from perfect unbroken communion and they hid. God called to them in the garden "Where are you?" not because He didn't know but He wanted them to show themselves.

He calls to each one of us still to come as we are, to see that all of life for a believer is prayer. It's not something we do but it is who we are. When Christ paid for our sin at Calvary we read that the veil in the Temple was ripped from top to bottom so that we can come, once more with unveiled faces. Paul encourages us to give thanks, no matter what happens.
The ability to apply this with a full heart is a gift of grace, based on our understanding of who God is. There is nothing that can happen to you today or tomorrow that has not passed through the merciful hands of your Father who loves you and is committed to your well being. Even if someone intentionally hurts us we can choose to give thanks that because of Christ we are not victims of the whims of others but we are those whose tears will be redeemed. We can also know that we are not suffering anything greater than Jesus Christ Himself suffered so we should be grateful He made a perfect example for us to follow!

 

[rizen1]

That was a good word, I receive it and Praise God for it.

Thank you for sharing.

God bless you

 

[Maureen]

I experienced that 'joy' through my Dad's death last year, what I thought would be something that would break my heart drew me closer to Jesus than ever.

I read Psalm 28
but verse 7 really spoke to me,
The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped, therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise Him.
I even read it out in the funeral service from the pulpit, and if you knew me, you would have known that was the Lord at work.
Well I couldn't at first understand, how can I sing at such a time as this, mourn, yes, sing, Uh? didn't even seem appropiate.
But then I understood, it was my heart's song, as my heart rejoiceth so it will sing, it was praise unto God, for my Dad, and now he'd gone to be with His Lord, what joy I did find, throught even sorrow, I never would have expected that to be, but with the Lord anything is possible, and His ways are not ours.

 

[Ronda]

Amen - My father passed in 2001 we buried him on 9/11. I had prayed for years that God do anything to bring Dad to salvation. He did. Dad had emphysema. Well he was in hospitals the last 2 months of his life. I had to ask - couldn't take a chance of him dying without knowing. 'Dad is Christ your savior?' He nodded as oxygen levels made it hard for him to always speak.
After his death we were given the things in his pocket and there amongst them was a small cross I had given him several years earlier and told him I was praying for him. Absolute joy filled my heart then and remembering it now still brings much joy!!!