Pray, Be Watchful And Give Thanks

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

      This is great advice to us as believers. We must continue to pray, being vigilant and thankful. Prayer connects us with our heavenly Father so that communion can take place. Let's be vigilant of the things around us, knowing that the time is near and waiting for Jesus' return. Let's be thankful in all things, in all circumstances as this humbles us and molds us to be more spiritually minded.

     We are reminded of this throughout scripture. Let us take heed and apply it to our lives. 

May God's blessings be upon your lives brothers and sisters in Christ.

I Will Give Thanks To You forever!

      

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalms 30:11-12

      Have you ever been to a place in your life where the circumstances you were going through were too much to bear, it seemed, but God was able to turn your sadness into joy and your heartache into happiness? Sometimes it's only when we look back on where God brought us that we are more thankful, therefore we cannot keep silent and MUST praise Him.

      I've often heard that people who have a greater testimony often have "crazier" praise. It reminds me of the woman with the alabaster box Luke 7:36-50. Jesus told Simon a story about 2 people who owed a moneylender, one owed a greater amount than the other.  Neither could pay him back so he told them to forget about it. Jesus then asked Simon, which one of them would love the moneylender more. Simon replied correctly by saying that the one that owed more. 

      When we've been through a lot in life like the woman with the alabaster box had been through, and our sins are forgiven, the love and gratitude that we have for the Lord is one that is sincere, overwhelming, and brings us to tears whenever we think about it.

      Jesus said, "Whoever has been forgiven little, loves little." So imagine if you have been forgiven a great number of things, your love should be great. 

      In this Psalms, David says that He will give thanks to the Lord forever! That should be our constant state of being, a state of gratitude. The mere fact that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners is enough to not be silent and give Him praises forever. 

An attitude of gratitude, this season and forever. 

In Everything Give Thanks, For It Is God's Will

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5: 18

      No matter what you are going through, give thanks to God. There is always a ray of light or a glimmer of hope in any circumstance when we are believers of the Lord. That ray of light is God Himself because He will deliver us, even if we have to suffer a little while. 

    When I think about the persecution the early believers went through and the fate of some of the disciples, the things that I go through mean nothing because there is no way my afflictions can compare to theirs. My heartaches can never compare to that of Jesus when he had to be put to death to save our souls. 

     Paul tells us that giving thanks is the will of God in Jesus for us. God wants us to be thankful to Him. He wants us to remember Him when we are consumed by our troubles. He wants us to keep our faith fixed on Him when everything we trust fails us. It is His will that we be thankful in Jesus. In Christ Jesus means those who know the teachings of Christ, those who live by the teachings of Christ, and those who are in Christ, this is the Lord's will for you. 

     The Lord wants us to be grateful and thankful in whatever circumstance. He wants us to be happy. Let's remember His word when we are confronted with trials and different afflictions. Let us give thanks through it all.

God bless you!

If we love one another, God abides in us 1 John 4:12

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 1 John 4:12

    How do we know that God abides in us? We know when we truly love one another and show each other love using Him as a prime example. We have not seen God but we have seen His love therefore through showing us what love is we can show others love as well. It will be perfected in us or be complete when it is genuine and true.

    Brothers and sisters, let's truly learn to love each other so that God may abide in us. Let us each day strive to make our temples (our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies) more hospitable for Him to live in. The only way we can do this is by doing what His word says.

God bless you!

Rejoice In The Lord Always

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! -Philippians 4:4

Always find joy in every season. The only way to truly find joy is in the Lord Almighty. I know it is easier said than done especially when we consider all of life's challenges and uncertainties. However, the Apostle Paul encourages us to "Rejoice in the Lord always," even when joy may seem elusive. These simple yet powerful words encapsulate a timeless invitation to discover lasting joy, regardless of our circumstances.

Embracing Joy in the Journey

Life is filled with ups and downs, moments of triumph, and seasons of struggle. It’s easy to associate joy with favorable circumstances—a promotion at work, a cherished relationship, or a personal achievement. However, the joy that Paul speaks of transcends fleeting happiness. It is a deep-seated gladness rooted in our relationship with the Lord.

Rejoice Always

When Paul exhorts us to rejoice always, he isn’t dismissing the hardships or trials we face. Instead, he invites us to view life through the lens of faith—a perspective that acknowledges God’s sovereignty and provision in every situation. This joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on our unchanging God.

Finding Strength in God’s Presence

In moments of uncertainty or difficulty, it’s natural to seek solace in tangible comforts or quick fixes. Yet, true and lasting joy comes from a place of spiritual alignment with God’s will. It’s about trusting His plan, even when we cannot see the way forward.

Rejoicing in Gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the gateway to joy. When we cultivate a heart of thankfulness, even amid challenges, we shift our focus from what we lack to the abundance of God’s blessings. Every breath, every moment becomes an opportunity to praise Him.

Living Out Philippians 4:4

As I reflect on Philippians 4:4, I am reminded of its relevance in my own journey. There have been seasons of celebration and times of uncertainty, but through it all, God’s faithfulness remains constant. Rejoicing in Him isn’t just a command—it’s a lifestyle that transforms how we navigate life’s peaks and valleys.

Embracing Joy Today

Today, I choose to embrace the joy that comes from knowing God. I rejoice in His love that never fails, His grace that sustains me, and His peace that surpasses all understanding. In every circumstance, I find comfort and strength in His presence.

As we journey through life, may we heed Paul’s timeless wisdom in Philippians 4:4. Let us rejoice always, not as a fleeting emotion but as a steadfast declaration of faith. In doing so, we discover that true joy isn’t found in perfect circumstances but in a perfect God who walks with us every step of the way.

So, I encourage you today—rejoice in the Lord always. Let His joy be your strength, your comfort, and your guiding light through every season of life.

God bless you.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. -Psalms 66:18

If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. -Psalms 66:18

    How do we have God answer our prayers? Well stated in this Psalm, one way is to make sure our hearts are pure, making sure we are not harboring sin in our hearts. 

    The Lord wants us to live a holy life, one where from the inside out our lives are in accordance to His word. Yes, we will make mistakes but it's the getting up, learning from sins and being convicted of those sins that are what's important. Everything about us has to be pure so that when we come to the Lord in prayer, He will hear our cries. 

     The rewards of the righteous and holy are laid out in scripture. Let us strive to bring our lives in accordance with God's word daily.

May God continue to strengthen you in your daily walk with Him. God bless you.

Remain in me, as I also remain in you John 15:4

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. - John 15:4

     To abide means to stay, to remain. Jesus wants us to be dependent on Him, rely on him, trust Him, keep our focus on Him and when we do that He will abide in us. When He abides in us He will guide us, keep us, and make sure we have everything we want and need- just like the vine nourishes the branch so it can bear fruit.

     We cannot bear fruit unless we remain in His word daily. His word joins us to Him and He is able to speak to us through His word therefore growing in Him daily. Just like a fruit, the more nourishment it gets, the more it grows. The more nourishment we get - the more we read the bible and apply it to our lives, the more we grown in Christ and know what He requires of us. 

     Let us abide in the Lord so that He may abide in us. God bless you and may you continue to be stayed in Him.

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