Thankful Thursday!

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


I recently read about a woman who lost her husband and one of her children in an auto accident.  A old co-worker of mine was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  The sister of one of my friends was just diagnosed with breast cancer, and her husband filed for divorce-they have children.  I don't watch TV much, but when I watch the news, it is usually filled with stories of crime and death.  There just seems to be so much sadness around lately. 

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

I chose the above verse to go along with Thankful Thursday's, because it is one I need to be reminded of daily.  It can be so difficult to be "joyful always", and to "give thanks in all circumstances".  So many times I want to shout "It's not fair!"  Whether it is a challenge in my marriage, with my children, friends, church, school, or just in myself~it can be difficult to give thanks.

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

For me, the key in this verse is "pray continually".  I often forget to take my struggles to the Lord.  I sometimes think it's not big enough or important enough to take to Him.  Sometimes I think I can take care of things myself.  Sometimes I just don't go to Him.  But I find that when I do go the Lord in prayer, I feel much better about things.  I have His peace.  It is hard to be "joyful always" when you don't have the joy of the Lord in your heart.  Being joyful is truly a matter of the heart.  Even if it is a problem in someone else's life that I can not possibly do anything about, praying for that person lifts their burden from my shoulder's to the Lord's.  With God, all things are possible.  I know that God does hear prayers and answers them.  Maybe not always the way we want them to be answered, but answered the way He planned them to be. 

So my prayer for this week for myself and also for you is that you can...

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

For more thankful lists, please visit Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage.

Have a great day!

Blessings,