A Joyful Christian Life

I Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

It is God’s desire that we be people of joy that connect with God in communion and prayer in gratitude. Joy, prayer and thanksgiving are a 3-in-1 combo meal for God’s people. The 3 elements are interconnected and interdependent on each other.

Without joy, it will be difficult to pray without ceasing. To pray continually we need the fuel of joy in our hearts. Giving thanks in all situations well up within us the joy of God’s presence and generate more prayers. It is all interlocked and co-dependent one on the other.

Do you struggle with prayer? The joy of the Lord is likely a missing element as well then. Together with the struggle, you would likely find yourself focusing on things that should have been and you do not have rather than giving thanks for all that you possess and is presently experiencing.

So prayer, joy and thanksgiving all start with an attitude, a mindset and a certain focus. It is a discipline of deciding and choosing a response that fits God’s agenda for your life. It is a mastery of our thoughts on counting all things that we have as gifts for God with His purpose. We may not yet understand why God allows and wants it that way but we decide to rejoice, trust and enter into a dialogue with Him anyway.

In doing so, we fulfil God’s plan for us in our lives and to be in the center of God’s will bring even more tremendous gratefulness which is an on-top-of-the-world feeling that truly shouts, ‘I am blessed’.

The youth groups in my church decided to take up a ’40 Days Thanksgiving Challenge’. In this challenge, we will list 5 items of thanksgiving per day over a 40-days period. It is an exercise that will surely change your outlook in life. Try it 

We do not know what to do

Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

2 Chronicles 20:12
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

Judah faced a national crisis. They were surrounded by 3 kings who seek to annihilate them. King Jehoshaphat’s response was to turn to the Lord.

In his prayer, Jehoshaphat did 3 things
1. Recalled who God is (v 6) : “Are you not…?” to which God’s answer has to be, “Yes, I am”
2. Reminded God of His relationship with His people (v.7-9) : “Did you not…?” He reminded God of His mighty deeds and promises made to God’s people; asking God to keep His word.
3. Requested that God take charge of the situation now (v 10-12)

After the prayer, with the whole nation in unity and fasting, 3 things happened
1. God showed up in a prophesy (v 14-17)
2. God’s people responded in worship (v18-22a)
3. God’s enemies (v 22-29). Noticed that God was the One who ambushed the enemies (v22) and it was the Lord who fought Jerusalem’s enemies (v 29)

When faced with problems and our ‘enemies’ too big and formidable for us, God only asks that we fix our eyes on Him which will translate into praising Him and then faith will rise up within us and to see the Lord delivers us from our plight.

“I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on you.” (2 Chron 20:12)

Instead of asking what should you do, turn to the One who is with you. He knows what to do and His eyes are on you.