“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)

When Jesus taught about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount, He included a desire for God’s will to be done, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) This is a prayer of submission to be offered by the one praying for the will of God. Submission is a willingness to be obedient to God and His desires for one’s life. Paul would tell us about the will of God as He writes to the church in Rome. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2) All because of God’s mercy to us through Jesus Christ, we submit ourselves to Him and He will reveal His will to us.

His will for what we do and where we go will be unique for each of us as it has been through each one who has come to follow God as one of His own children. “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27) However, our response to His will is to be the same for all of us. Paul presents this response by saying, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Whatever God’s specific will for each of us is, we are to begin our response with rejoicing. Then, because we are useable by God, we are to continue to rejoice. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) Our response continues as we are continually in communication with God in prayer. We have this communication because He dwells with us always through His gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18) Our response develops with gratitude. “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)

Our response to God’s will is to be offered as we live it. All of our circumstances will be different as each of us lives our lives. God’s will for each of us will be unique for the setting, timing, and gifting of each of us. No matter what those circumstances are, we are to rejoice, pray and give thanks. Remember that His will is good, pleasing and perfect, through which He deserves our praise.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block