From my journal this morning:

ALWAYS  BE  BITTER

DON’T PRAY

NEVER  GIVE  THANKS…ESPECIALLY  WHEN  LIFE  IS  HARD…BUSY…OR  UNFAIR.

Did that give you a little chuckle or cause you to raise an eyebrow wondering what type of mood I woke up in this morning?

Actually I was having a little fun looking at the flip flop of what the Word said this very day:

“Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

I Thessalonians 5: 16

Looking at the Word from the flip side of what it DOES NOT say helped me to be excited by what it DOES say.  I choose to never wear that pair of flip flops.

These are commands to us…not suggestions.  By following these commands we can be confident that we are walking in God’s will for us.

These three things are to comprise our lives…how do I know this? 

When are we to be joyful?  ALWAYS.

How often are we to pray?  CONTINUALLY.

Is there any circumstance that would exclude us from giving thanks?  NO…IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

My life with the Lord should be one that cultivates joy, prayer and thankfulness…perhaps this practice keeps the corners of my life from accumulating dust bunnies composed of bitterness, nonexistent  prayer and ingratitude. If you are anything like me, I am always surprised at how quickly they appear…seemingly out of nowhere.

This verse is like a command circle helping us find our way back when we jump the track…seek joy…lacking joy…pray…continually…joy restored…leads  to giving thanks…which leads to joy…which pours out prayer…and so on and so on and so on…

Let’s walk in God’s will by putting on joy, prayer and thankfulness…I dare say it not only will change our lives but those around us as well…that’s a very good thing.