“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)
Life can be so complicated. Interpersonal relationships, work-life balance, living our faith in a secular world. In every area of our lives, we find conflict and complexity.
We find this in religion, too. We attend a new church, but feel out of sync with the flow of the service; sit, stand, read, kneel. We look at a Bible and think that it’s too long, too difficult to read. We know it is the guide book to life, but who has time to read it?
When we think things are too hard, too time-consuming, too complicated for us to figure out and follow, we turn away. We say, “Never mind,” or “Maybe tomorrow.” We give up. And what we are giving up might be the most important thing we ever do.
Simplicity and directness are the keys to getting anything done. And that includes starting (or continuing) on your journey to faith.
This verse lays it out plainly. Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks. If you can do these things each day on earth, you will find that everything else falls into place. There are many specific pieces of advice and direction in the Bible, but these three can form a foundation to build upon.
As you grow in faith, remember that God’s will for you is to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Start there and see where you end up.
Have a joyous Monday!
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