I remember when I was in college, feeling all the pressure that came with trying to declare a major and deciding what in the world I wanted to do with my life. Was Bible college a smart choice for this 18-year-old girl? Not to mention the fact that I was consumed with worry about who I was going to marry. Would I marry? Am I wasting time waiting for Chris to come around and love me back? (I wasn’t. He did.) I would stress out over trying to figure out what I wanted for my life and asked God over and over what His will was. I wanted him to just tell me already! Lay out your plans before me and I’ll get on it! I never got an audible voice from heaven telling me what classes to take or who to date. I just kept asking and step by step, with each decision made, held Jesus close.
Maybe you are facing a situation right now where you are struggling to find out what God’s will is for you. Maybe you are facing a big decision and are really struggling to know what to do. I found a verse today that has helped me in the past and may help you as well.
Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
The Apostle Paul writes two simple directives that he says are God’s will for us who belong to Jesus. He made my to do list for today!
Never Stop Praying. My Heavenly Father wants to talk to me everyday. He wants me to have a relationship with Him. I’m pretty sure if he just told me everything I was supposed to do in life, I’d abandon the close relationship that I have and end up trying to do everything in my own strength.
Be Thankful. I can’t decide if this one is easy or difficult! I suppose it depends on the day… My attitude matters. I may not know every detail of what God has planned for me to do, but I know this. His will is for me to be thankful. A heart this is thankful is happy. This can seem difficult at first if you have become accustom to always seeing the negative in things. There have been plenty of times when I have realized that everything out of my mouth has been negative. When this happens I bring down my husband and children and I HATE IT. It is a horrible pattern to get into. Plus, it is completely unattractive! (I always want to look cute.) When it happens I have to make a conscious decision to stop it. I start listing things there are to be thankful for and I thank God for them. There are plenty. Even on the worst of days. I put music on that encourages my heart to praise God. Thankfulness can seriously change everything. Practicing thankfulness has the power to change you for the better and it is God’s perfect will for your life.
