Three Keys to Godly Contentment!

Three Keys to Godly Contentment – My Daily Bread!

Our reflection today is taken from 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, NIV, which reads:

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.  

These words were written to the Thessalonian church which was young and in need of much encouragement for they were challenged by the persecution they faced and the temptations of their pagan culture.

Paul wrote to strengthen their faith and encourage them to stand firm for God.  He focused them on three things to help them remain steadfast: be joyful always, pray continually and to give thanks in all circumstances – good or bad.  Being thankful always does not mean that we should thank God for the bad things that happen to us, for evil does not come from God.  But it does mean that when we are experiencing bad things we are thankful to God for His presence and grace that saves and for the good that will be accomplished through our trials.

Thanks be to God that this encouragement from Paul is also our comfort in Christ today!  If you are going through something right now or waiting on the Lord for something, follow this trustworthy recipe and maintain your joy in the Lord, pray continually and offer thanksgiving in all things!  For this is how we guard our hearts against slipping into despondency and despair.

And finally Paul draws our focus to our Creator, which is where we remain if we focus on the three keys mentioned above:  “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it”.  (1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24, NIV)

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