Tag Archives: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The first page of your new year

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Today is the first page of a 365 page story, the story of your life in 2015.

 

 

Maybe you have some idea of what you want to be part of this year’s story. You have hopes and dreams for what you will accomplish. Likely, there will be surprises that will suddenly appear on your pages. But even when the pages turn unexpectedly, you remain in control of what is written on them. How you respond to life determines your story more than the actual events that transpire. So how will you write this year of your life?

 

You could just wait and see what happens, live life as it comes to you. Que será, será. Put life on autopilot and see where it takes you. Let the spinning wheel spin and see where it stops. It’s easy to get caught up on the merry-go-round, distracted by all the lights and music. Before you know it, a day, a week, a month, a year, a life has passed…without purpose.

 

You could take charge, set your goals, plan extensively, and live with great focus. I tend to be a goal-setter and planner so I suppose I easily fall into this category. I tend to think it is good to ‘count the costs’ and plan well. In the parable of the talents, Jesus praised those who invested well. We too should invest our time well and also our other resources. But sometimes, the best of plans have to be set aside and new strategies adopted. You had intended to write one thing in your book of life, but life itself changes the direction of the next page and chapter.

 

There is a third, more profitable way to write the story of 2015 and that is to devote the year, all of it, to the glory and honor of God. “Whatever you do, do it as unto The Lord” for His purpose and His glory. (Colossians 3:23). “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

 

God delights in you and He wants to show you the way to go in this new year. He longs for your joy. Shouldn’t your story be all about Him? How do you do that? Make sure each page of 2015 be filled with three things:

 

Rejoicing – God is good. He will always be with you.
Praying – Talk with God throughout the day. Spend some time listening.
Giving thanks – Find reason to give thank every single day.

 

Write a great story in 2015!  Fill your pages with these things and enjoy a wonderful new year!

 

“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

 

 

Give thanks…when?!

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“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

 

It is easy to thank God when times are good and things are going smoothly. But we are instructed to give thanks in ALL situations. Why? Because it is God’s profitable will for us. Now, I admit giving thanks was not the first thing on my mind the day I received my cancer diagnosis. My body was already broken down and I was so exhausted I didn’t know what to think, but I know giving thanks wasn’t at the top of my list. And yet, with the passing of a few weeks, it was easier to give thanks in – and for – revealing the cancer in my life. Why? Because it also revealed the cancer in my spiritual life. Depending too much on myself and ‘my rights’, lacking more discipline in my prayer life, and pride were as much of a cancer as the Leukemia that was killing me.  Furthermore, my physical cancer revealed  God’s protection over me. Had I pushed ahead with my plans to relocate to South America right away, I likely would not have been diagnosed, and that would have been a death sentence. If diagnosed, I likely would not have received the expert level of care that I received here.  Not only did I find God’s protection but also His provision. He provided a platform for reaching others with His truth and grace in the hospital environment, patients and staff. He provided time for me to grow up (to mature as James writes in the below passage). He provided opportunity to draw Marcia and me even closer together. He provided opportunity to learn and practice humility.

 

As you look back on the tough times in your life, can you see how those difficulties yielded benefit to you? Maybe you would still choose to have avoided them if you could. Maybe the pain of those memories continue to scar your life. But haven’t they also provided some good? It is the intent of our Great God to bring good out of distress. We are so used to weighing goodness on a scale of our own feelings, our comfort, and our personal gain, that it becomes so difficult to see how tough times can play out on the grander scale. Yes, there are seemingly senseless and completely unjust acts. Yes, the rain does fall on the just and unjust alike. But if we cannot find any reason to give thanks and pray continually even in those times, what can we hope to become? If our faith is only tested to be strong in the easy times, of what real use to us is it?

 

Whatever happens today, practice giving thanks, with continual prayer and petition to God. Know that He will not abandon you and He desires to redeem goodness from bad situations.  Ask Him for strength and wisdom to respond well, to persevere, and to finish His good work in you, so that you lack nothing.

 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 

 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

 

 

Growing Faith Through Transitions

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Yesterday’s post on using transition times to cultivate a heart of thanksgiving reminded me of when I first became aware of the importance of transition times throughout the day.

It was 1982. I was working in a Mennonite window factory in Washington, Iowa. In fact, it had just opened and I was the only worker at the time. All day I would listen to the Christian music piped into the factory and carry my windows from jig to jig. After years of teaching in the public schools and the past year of completing my master’s degree while also teaching 40+ guitar students, I now had no distractions and was free to focus my day on growing my relationship with God. And I thought to myself, “Why is it so hard to focus on maintaining a relationship with God throughout the day in a regular job?”

I thought about Daniel praying seven times a day. Then it occurred to me that there are times of transition throughout every day, some the same and some at varying times and places. We get up and we go to bed, two essential times for focusing on who God is and who we am in His sight, times for preparing and reflecting on daily agendas. (This would later become an essential leadership lesson for me, understanding the value of not running into the day unprepared.)

We generally eat three times a day, which for many is a customary time of prayer, time for giving thanks, and time for regaining God’s perspective. Though I was never very good or consistent with taking breaks mid-morning or midday, I learned there was value in setting aside some time to back off from whatever projects or stressors, and look at the big picture. Getting up, 3 meals, 2 breaks, and going to bed…7 natural breaks in the day to focus and give thanks and gain perspective. And then I realized there were several other transition times, from one appointment to another, from home to work or school or the stores, from one project to another, times of getting up and times of sitting down.

The point isn’t to make a legalistic tour of the day, but to recognize natural occurring opportunities for connecting with God, for backing off to gain perspective, and for recharging your batteries. Of course, for a Spirit Filled Christian the opportunity is there to develop a relationship so close that every moment is a time of personal relationship with Christ who offers to live IN the heart of the believer. Humbly, I am still in process.

What are the transition times in your life? And how can you intentionally use them for your benefit and the benefit of others around you? It is a habit worth cultivating.

“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