Today’s Verse:
I am rejoicing always and praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians
5:16-17 NKJV).
In Context:
Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are
lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be
patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try
to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop
praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for
you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:14-18, NLT)
Gosh, Paul sure is good at summing up all the best advice in
a few short, effective sentences. This
is the perfect verse to write upon your heart, memorize in your mind, and post
close to your eyes, so that you can renew your mind with it when you are
frustrated with a co-worker, challenged by a passive-aggressive friend, or
simply in a hurry and impatient waiting in a line or trying to get something
done in a timely manner. Encourage the timid, take care of the weak,
be patient with EVERYONE, try to do good to each other and all people. What better advice could any of us give to
one another in times of trial or even every day life. The hardest one for most
people is probably always be joyful.
We are so ruled by our moods at times, allowing them to affect not only how we feel
that day (sad, angry, or simply melancholy), but also how we treat others,
which in turn, affects their day and mood. So, how do we go about being joyful
all the time?
Never stop praying…this
is one of the ways we change that negative mood. Pray about it, encourage
someone else, take care of a friend or family member who needs it more than you
at the moment and watch your mood turn around, watch that joy take over. Finally, be
thankful in all circumstances. It’s been maybe over emphasized in the
media, books, etc…the last few years, but there is something to be said for a “gratitude
journal.” When all seems bleak and too much for us, write down what you DO have
to be thankful for, and you will quickly realize that things could be much
worse, and there really is a silver lining.
How can we renew the mind today? Remind yourself of those
things you have to rejoice over and pray without stopping in order to maintain
that glass half full mindset.
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