I am currently doing a bible study series on God’s will for our lives. There are at least 40+ books on this subject. Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life book has sold 50million copies. Did these authors have some type of mystery revealed to them and you didn’t, so they have the authority to be an expert for you? Hundreds of million of dollars have been spent on these books.
Please do not waste any money on these books. They are just preying on people that don’t know their Scriptures. Turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19. It reads, Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the spirit.
Let’s understand the text and apply the meaning. “Rejoice” means to be glad, to be joyful, and to be cheerful. Are you glad, joyful, and cheerful every day, always? This IS God’s will for you. As we unpack the rest of the verse we will learn how to be in a cheerful posture.
“Pray without ceasing” means DO NOT stop praying. How is your prayer life today, this week, this month? Have you stopped praying to your Father? If so, make a positive change, be convicted, and start praying today. Breakdowns or an inconsistent prayer life are common in Christians because most pastors do not teach prayer modeling and disciplines. Satan does not want you praying to God on a continual basis so he’s going to do everything he can to disrupt your prayer life. James 5:16 reads Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much. Your prayers can accomplish much! Now let’s read some more. John 14:12-15 reads “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. “And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
If you are in a pattern of a knowable and intentional sin against God, you will not be able to have a strong and intimate prayer life until you repent and deny your flesh it’s desires. Jesus says in John 14, “…ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Immediately after instructing prayer, Jesus discusses keeping His commandments. There is power in striving for holiness, purity, and righteousness. Let’s obey God and keep His commandments! Of course you will stumble along the way. Confess, repent, and move on. If you are watching porn daily, getting drunk consistently, cheating on your spouse, always telling falsehoods, etc. you will not be able to have the prayer life God desires for you. You are also robbing yourself of answered prayers that God wants you to have! Don’t forget, pray without ceasing!
Finally, let’s look at “In everything give thanks.” Examine your life right now and give thanks to God for what He has done for you. It is HIS will for you. Let me give you some examples of how you can give thanks on His provisions many forget and don’t even think about.
- Give the Lord thanks every time you have clean water to drink. 2. When you go to sleep at night give the Lord thanks for your mattress, your blanket, and your pillow. 3. When you open the refrigerator, give thanks for the food no matter how much or little is inside. 4. When you go to the thermostat to turn on your heat, give thanks that you have a heater to keep warm. 5. When you take a shower, give thanks that you have soap, hot water, shampoo and a towel to dry off. 6. If you have a car, bike, motorcycle, etc. give thanks you have transportation!
I hope these examples help you reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for!
I advise memorizing 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19! There is so much power in this verse. The devil does not want you in God’s will for your life. And if you don’t know it, how can you stay in it? The devil does not want you cheerful, he does not want you to have a thankful heart, and he does not want you living an obedient life to Christ with a powerful prayer life.
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