Devotion

“Rejoice always. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5: 16,18(nkjv)

Rejoice and give thanks in everything? That sounds real good, however, how many of us really follow through with it? The seed of discouragement comes and we collapse under it’s weight. I cannot tell you the times I have let discouragement take me further than I wanted to go. There was no joy. I found myself caving in under the pressure of discouragement. I lost sight of the vision God had given me. I was not singing with joy, but complaining with discouragement. I heard a quote recently about a teapot that really stuck with me. It went like this: It is good to remember that the teakettle, although up to its neck in hot water, continues to sing! So my answer to discouragement was, when the heat is on just sing and be thankful for what I have and trust the Lord to take care of the rest! Joy can be the constant experience of the Christian, even in the most adverse discouraging circumstances, because Jesus is the source of our joy. We must remember that God is in control of all our circumstances no matter how and when Satan brings discouragement our way.

Today remember, it is hard for Satan to sow a seed of discouragement in a grateful heart. Rejoice, sing and have a grateful heart, in everything give thanks. By Joyce Turner, RSRM copyright protected 1999/2008.