Devo (21): Rejoice. Pray. Give Thanks.

Scripture reading: ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Observation: We can see in this verse what’s God’s will for us. This is one of the verses that expresses the will of God in our lives. We are commanded to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. Since, these phrases are not separated by a period then it should be interpreted having one thought. We rejoice in all circumstances – good or bad because we have prayed to God all our circumstances and on that basis we give thanks in all circumstances. Rejoicing always is an act of faith to our God who is in control even over the bad, hopeless, discouraging, dark, and trying times. Praying without ceasing acknowledges that God works through our prayers. As our Father, He wants His children to ask things from Him. And as good children, we should trust our heavenly Father because He doesn’t withhold good things to His children and He knows what is best for Him. He is infinitely wise and perfectly loving towards us and He is in control to bring about what He has meant for us. That’s why we could give thanks in all things – not just the good things.

Application: Let us be joyful in all circumstances even in hopeless, dark, discouraging, tiring, and trying times because God is our hope, light, strength, and shield. Let us pray and share to God all the struggles that we have, the needs that we want, our plans for the future, our worries, and our concerns. Always remember that our heavenly Father wants to listen to His children but we must also remember that our heavenly Father is perfect and His plans and His ways are higher than ours. So whatever He wills in our lives, we should thank Him for it because that’s what’s best for us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give us more joy in You. May we rely on You more and express our trust through prayer. Whatever Your response to our prayers, may we give thanks to all circumstances because You know what’s best for us and You work all things together for our good and Your glory. Help us to be in line with Your will in our lives by being joyful, prayerful, and thankful in all things. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Devo (20): You are Mine

Scripture reading: 18 I love you, O Lord, my strength. ² The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1-2)

Observation: “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” May we say that statement not just with our lips but also in our heart of hearts. We love God because He is ours. The psalmist is like saying, “Lord, I love you because you are mine.” The psalmist then enumerates the things that God is for him. God is His strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn of his salvation, and his stronghold. Before he said those things about God, he adored and acknowledged God as Lord. Lord means ruler not just with our lives but with everything that is happening around us. God is in control. It’s also amazing and noteworthy to mention that the psalmist didn’t say, “God is the strength, the rock, the shield, and so forth.” The God that we believe in is not just in control but is a personal and intimate kind of God. When we are tired, God is our strength. When we are unstable and shaky, God is our sure foundation and rock. When enemies attack us, God is our fortress. When we are hopeless and helpless, God is our deliverer. Because of who He is, we can surely take refuge in Him. When the arrows of satan, the world, and sin are hurled to us, God is our shield. We are hell-bound sinners but God is our salvation. When we are weak and tired with life, He is our stronghold. We are His and He is ours. What an awesome reality; that we possess the God that makes us His possession. God is all these things and many more therefore the psalmist love Him.

Application: Let us meditate the amazing reality of who God is as we express our love for Him. May we pray out loud the prayer of the psalmist. Let us say to God, “Lord, I love you because You are my strength!” “Lord, I love you because You are my salvation!” Reminding ourselves of who God is deepens our love for Him. May we not just be reminded of His amazing and beautiful reality but may we ponder, meditate, and saturate our hearts till it ignites our affections and emotions to love God with all our soul. If we are tired, hopeless, helpless, discouraged, afraid, and so forth, let us seek our God who gives us strength, hope, help, encouragement, protection, and so forth because He is all these things; God is our strength, hope, help, encouragement, protection, and so forth. May we increase our love all the more because love fuels obedience. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” That’s how important loving God is.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, increase our love for You! Lord Jesus, increase our love for You! Holy Spirit, increase our love for You! You are everything to us, O Lord, and we love You. Help us to express our love for You by obeying Your commandments. Help us love you more, O God, with the love that You deserve. Only You could work this miracle in our hearts as we meditate on Your goodness, beauty, and wonder in Your word. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.