JOY AND THANKFULNESS NO MATTER WHAT
Dedicated to Betsy Hall, Elizabeth Polson, Kitty Huber, Becky Slade, and Sandra Tarno
*****************************************************
RejoiceG5463 always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every
situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for
this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
1Thessalonians 5:16-18 (AMP)
At this very moment, I am in pain. My foot that is no longer there is having spasms, phantom pain. We tend to think of rejoicing as a feeling, but it is not. It is bound up in relationship, my relationship to our heavenly Father that I am devoted to and committed to no matter what. Joy is possible because God loves me and chose me when I was unworthy because of sin. I wouldn’t even have the capacity to love Him unless He loved me first (1 John 4:19). I can give thanks to God when I pray, even when I am in pain, because He is faithful. I have trusted Jesus, surrendered my life to Him; and thanksgiving is His will and destiny for me. What the Lord instructs me to do, He empowers me to do through the Holy Spirit within me.
The Holy Spirit can give you the ability to rejoice and praise the Lord even during struggles. Make a conscientious effort to thank the Lord even while you are hurting. Obedience to the commands in the verses above will help you to overcome whatever challenges you face.
Lord, in obedience and by the power of Your Holy Spirit within me, I thank You for the phantom pain, the spasms, the sleep apnea, and all the challenges Cerebral Palsy gives my earth-suit. Thank you for giving the calm assurance of joy deep within, even during the times of greatest struggle.
Worship along with this song based on 1 Thessalonians 16:18 from Elevate-Inspire: