What is God’s Will?
Verse of the Day
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Today’s Devotional
It’s time. Do you feel it? It’s time to step back from the struggle of living on a messy planet with messy humans and ACTIVELY look for the good things in our lives. For no other reason than because the Bible tells us that being thankful in all circumstances in God’s will for us.
Recently I woke up very early in the morning, several hours before I needed to be up. As soon as I was conscious enough to realize that I was awake, my brain was spinning. Fast. And not about anything good. I got up and went to the living room to spend time with God. And none of my usual tools worked to settle my brain. So I started making a gratitude list. About big things and things so small my gratitude felt silly. Eventually my brain came into alignment with my gratitude.
Practicing gratitude is one of the best tools we have in our spiritual toolbelt. And when we nned to use it most is when we want to use it least.
The science of gratitude is fascinating. Practicing (and writing down) gratitude actually rewires your brain. Perhaps that’s why God tells us to be grateful, because He knows it will enhance our life. Here’s my challenge to you (and me): Practice the habit of gratitude. If you are not yet using a journal, this is a great way to start. You can start by simply writing down at least 3 things each day that you are grateful for. You could even do this on your phone. (Put your gratitude list in your calendar, or in a notes app, or download any journal app.) If you are already using a journal, I challenge you to focus your journal entries on gratitude each day (or at least a portion of each day’s entry). Some days we will also be focusing on areas of gratitude that you may not normally consider. This will be a great way to practice a new skill, or to sharpen and hone your habit of being grateful.
If you know me personally, then you probably know that I am passionate about this subject. Being a person who practices the habit of gratitude has changed my life. It has made me more joyful, and it has changed my perspective on so many things.
So what is gratitude?
I have read several studies on the science of gratitude. One study from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley defines gratitude as a two step process: (1) recognizing that one has obtained a positive outcome and (2) recognizing that there is an external source for this positive outcome.
That definition falls short for me. It’s all about recognition. I can recognize someone in a crowded room, but until I say “hello”, that recognition lives only inside my head. I like the 2 steps in the above definition, but I would add a third step: (3) doing something (whether spoken, written, or actional) to acknowledge that the positive outcome came from the external source.
Now…let’s go back to today’s verse: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you…”
Have you ever been struggling with what the will of God is for your life? This verse answers that question. God’s will for me today is to find something to be grateful for in every single situation I am in.
Let’s apply that to a fictional circumstance. Suppose I have to make a decision about a job. I am currently employed but a new potential opportunity has come on my radar. My first instinct would be to pray that God show me His will for my employment. But if I am to take this verse and apply it to the situation, here’s what that might look like:
-God, thank you for my current job that helps me to pay the bills and keep my family fed and safe.
-God, thank you for opportunities, both the ones I currently see and the ones you have yet to show me.
-God, thank you for the skills and abilities you have given me that allow me to work at any job.
-God, thank you for allowing me to bring my options before you and for any guidance you may give me.
-God, thank you for the knowledge that no matter what job I am in, you are in control of all things.
-God, thank you in advance for the direction you will give me.
I know what some of you (including me) are thinking. “That’s all well and good, but how do I actually make a decision?”
I believe that gratitude changes my perspective about my world and what I see. I believe that when I am focusing on my blessings instead of my uncertainties, the answers about any decisions I need to make will fall into place. I believe these things because I have seen them happen in my life and in the lives of others. I believe that having a heart of gratitude makes the uncertainties more bearable.
If God says in His Holy Word that His will for my life is for me to be grateful, then what have I got to lose?
Each day we are going to have a couple of prompts for specific things in your life for which you might be grateful. Consider this a way to prime the pump of a grateful heart.
Today’s Gratitude Challenge 1: What are you grateful for about your home? Whether you rent or own, the fact that you have a home is a gift.
Today’s Gratitude Challenge 2: What are you grateful for about weekends?
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
Have you ever struggled trying to find God’s will for your life or in a specific situation?
What do you have to be grateful for today?
Think of a situation that is troubling you today and make a gratitude list about that situation.
How can you show God that you believe the truth of this verse?