By Solange Rodnez
Solange Rodnez is a retired registered nurse who has decades of experience teaching Sunday School lessons, Bible studies, and women’s groups. She wrote Daily Devotional as part of her time with God, studying the Word and sharing teachings on her daily prayer time.
You can purchase copies of these devotionals on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Solange Rodnez
Please support her work so that she can continue producing Godly content to encourage and support your Spiritual growth. ~ Rev. Keith Howard
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always. Why? Because in His presence, there is fullness of joy. Jesus is the perfect embodiment of this verse. From His birth to His resurrection, heaven and earth rejoiced because He brings joy to the world. His mission was to suffer on the cross, bearing our sins, die, be buried, and resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can have eternal life and a close relationship with God. Now, we have reason to rejoice always because of the promise and hope that we have for a better life, a better future, and eternal life. Some may ask, how can we rejoice always when facing challenges back to back, when our prayers are not answered the way we want, or when we do not understand why God allows us to experience so much hardship? Those thoughts are just feelings and emotions. Joy is not based on circumstances, but rather joy comes from the Lord. In the Lord, we find an unchanging source of peace, happiness, and contentment. As a Father, God knows just the right time to answer our prayers. He wants us to trust Him and to have joy in our hearts for our own sake. Let us be joyful always, no matter what comes our way.
Pray continually. Why? Because Jesus did. Consistent prayer is important to deepen our faith, develop our relationship with God, and keep our lives on the path to follow Jesus’s example. We need to pray even when we do not feel like it because God is pleased when His children commune with Him. James 5:16b says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Jesus knew that prayer was important to keep His intimacy with the Father and to follow His Father’s instructions, guidance, and plan for the day. That is why early in the morning, Jesus spent quality time with His Father. He needed the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to pursue His assignment for the day. Let us learn from Jesus to set apart a specific time alone to pray and fellowship with God, to listen carefully for God’s instruction for the day, to pay attention to His plan and purpose, to focus on Him, and to pray constantly as the Spirit leads us. As the day goes by, tell Him how you feel. He is always ready to commune with you because he cares.
Give thanks in all circumstances. Why? Because God calls us to a life of gratitude. He wants us to give thanks to Him at all times, whether good or bad. This way, we can prove that we trust Him for all our needs. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Let us adopt the attitude of Christ and appreciate all that God has done for us, giving thanks to Him in all circumstances. We have a reason to thank Him just because we are still breathing. God’s will for us is to live a blessed and abundant life. Let us rejoice always by singing, worshiping, and praising Him, for the Lord our God is majestic and powerful.
Your Application
