“What’s God’s will for my life?” is a question that most of us will ask at some point in our lives. Maybe you’ve asked it a different way, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” or “Is                     the one for me?” We don’t want to wonder or wander through life – we want direction. While the Bible might not spell out your vocation directly, or name your spouse for you, Scripture does make God’s will for our lives clear.

    

This passage has been on my mind quite a bit the last few months. This is the theme passage for our Parma Heights Christian Academy students this year. All of our students are memorizing it, and I have the privilege of teaching on these verses monthly with them. These are simple but profound verses.

    

1. Rejoice always… (16) In other words, always be joyful. As we study the Bible, we learn that joy should be a basic characteristic for Christians. Our joy has its source in God, not our changing circumstances or often fickle feelings. Joy is one of the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), something that the Holy Spirit wants to develop in us. Romans 14:7 tells us that we can have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, regardless of our circumstances. And when we overflow with joy, when joy is expressed in our words and actions, that’s when we’re rejoicing. It’s God’s will that you would be so filled with joy, that it would overflow as rejoicing, all the time.
       
2. Pray without ceasing… (17) At first glance, we might be tempted to think that this is impossible. It’s much more realistic when we consider the various types of prayer. For example, we can have extended prayer times, formal prayer times, silent prayer, prayer out loud, private prayer, and corporate prayer. Many of us can relate to staying in touch with a spouse or good friend throughout the day with short texts or messages, just to touch base or pass along an encouragement. While you’re not talking constantly, you’re in continual communication. I think of teens who are glued to their phones, in constant contact with their friends, keeping their streaks alive. God loves us deeply, and it’s His will that we would be in constant communication with Him.
       
3. Give thanks in all circumstances… (18) With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many of us are gearing up for a season of thanksgiving. But it’s God’s will that we would be grateful people, all of the time, regardless of our circumstances. I believe this is more than looking for a silver lining to a challenging day. This is a mindset that embraces God’s sovereign hand over the circumstances of our lives and looking for, and recognizing, His goodness in all things.

    

When we’re practicing these 3 commands, we can know that we are living out God’s will for our lives. Which one of these is most challenging for you? Which one do you need to focus on today?