“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.
The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 23, 24MSG
Oh, I love to be cheerful…but, no matter what? And praying, well, that’s a very good thing…but all the time? Plus, I know to thank God…but no matter what happens?
Notice the key ingredient that enables you to live cheerfully, pray all the time and thank God…no matter what. It’s Jesus. Yep. You must belong to Christ Jesus.
He’s the One who lives in you and is your power to be cheerful when you see nothing to cheer about; to pray when you can’t utter a word; and to be thankful when the feelings just aren’t there. He’s our lifeline.
He’s the One who allows us to see our circumstances through His big-picture eyes. Not just through our little snapshot glimpses. He knows the end from the beginning. He allows EVERYTHING for our good and His glory.
He put you together…spirit, soul, body…and is in the process of making you holy and whole. If you’ll let Him. He’s begun a good work in you and will complete it. (Philippians 1:6) However, it’s how you respond to Him, in the process of keeping you fit, that will bring out your grateful, full-of-cheer, praying heart…or not so much.
He can’t mess up. He’s God. Let Him do His work in and through you. He called you. You responded. He is completely dependable. Not just occasionally. He stands on His promises. If He said it…He WILL DO IT!
If we will allow His purpose to take root in our life, then what has been planted, is being watered and fertilized, WILL come forth holy and whole…so the “all-the-times” and “no-matter-whats” will begin to happen consistently. “This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live!”
