June 6, 2017 – I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Have you ever been so thankful, joy floods you from deep inside?  How do you express such joy and thankfulness? One day, not long ago, I counted my blessings, and the lyrics of a song began from my heart, “How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me, so undeserved, yet You give to prove Your love to me? The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude. All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee.”

Yesterday, after a sweet friend brought her harp to play for my husband in his room, he pronounced it beautiful! My thoughts drifted to Heaven and the glories there.  These verses came to my mind: Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (for we walk by faith, not by sight);  we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.  2 Corinthians 5:6-8.

How can this be? The following verses clarify our path, our way to being at home with the Lord. Living holy lives – letting God of peace make our whole spirit, soul, and body blameless until Jesus comes. God, who is faithful, will make this happen.  How does it begin?  Being and living full of joy that comes from thankfulness, and pray without ceasing.

Dear Lord, Praise be to You who brings me such unspeakable joy and guides me through this life in your Light. Help me to see others with your heart. I pray my faith in you is unwavering. May my song always be, “Oh, how I love Jesus…because He first loved me!”  I pray in Jesus’ Name…Amen.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. I Thessalonians 5:23-24.