Brianna Barrett
"Why do we have so much laundry? I’m so tired of always cooking. Why can’t I have what she has?I am embarrassed to admit this was me. I was tired and irritable, and nothing made it better. My grumblings turned my attitude sour about everything. (photo courtesy of pixabay.com.)
Then I read Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonica church: “Always be joyful and never stop praying.” Paul was forced out of Thessalonica after leading many Jews to Christ. Now in Corinth, he had received word from Timothy that unbelieving Jews were persecuting the new converts. Yet the Thessalonians held firm in their faith.
Paul wrote two letters to the church to encourage them in their sufferings. Paul, a man who had faced many hardships in his lifetime, also told them to be joyful. He didn’t mean for them to be happy about their circumstances but joyful in them because of the Spirit’s power.
I wasn’t obeying Paul’s instructions or being joyful in my tasks. I began praying. My prayers weren’t fancy but heartfelt. I prayed for God to change my attitude, outlook, and heart. These prayers led me to the last part of Paul’s advice. I thanked God for everything.
I struggled when I first started thanking God for my circumstances. "Why do I have so much laundry?" became "Thank You Lord for this laundry. I have a family, and we are blessed to have clean clothes." The dirty dishes? I thanked God we had food and that I could love my family by providing a healthy meal.
The more I did it, the easier thanking became. When hard days come and my attitude starts to sour, I remind myself to be joyful . . . no matter what.
"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NLT
What steps can you take to thank God for everything and never stop praying?
(photo courtesy of pixabay.com.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
My weekly advice from the book, "We All Married IDIOTS, by Elaine W. Miller:
(p. 70) "Pain can make your marriage muscles stronger and enables you to go the distance as you commit to hold on and to never let go of the hands that God joined together."#123- Testimony- GrJean
My mother was a believer in Jesus. When my father died, she turned to the Lord for help. I remember seeing her lean on the refrigerator, praying! She was strong in faith, and she passed it down to me and my brother. Over the years, it has proven to be the Strength that we've both needed!
1666-1670 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-
~ Robert L. Segress- "God does not go out of business. He is eternal, faithful, and righteous. His promises have a lasting guarantee. He meant it when He said He would never leave or forsake any of His children. So we can have confidence, even on our deathbeds. The Lord is our Shepherd. Our confidence proceeds from the relationship with the Holy One, who said heaven and earth would pass away, but his words would remain forever. God's Word, our manual for living, is not a package of trail mix where we choose what we like and reject what we don't. Instead, it is our bread of life, a complete manna to partake of daily, one full of God's guaranteed promises."
Church Notes: The book of Proverbs has advice for living
The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,
located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,
broadcast their Sunday services at 10 or 10:15
You can view past services too.
Sermon listing:https://www.
