Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.....I Thes. 5:18
There is desperate need for the Spirit to function among and within the churches. We are of nothing more than organization with no power blessing if we have not the Holy God in Spirit form residing within. We are nothing; we go nowhere and see nothing but decline.
The key to opening to the Holy Spirit is the simplicity of a thankful heart. Gratitude sees God. Selfishness sees ourselves as god; we are the providers, the suppliers, the producers.
Rejoice always means something when always is factored. Selective gratitude matches the emotional whirl of unbelievers. They, too, have their moments of rejoicing. The difference is only found in the always.
Pray without ceasing is not a reprimand for neglecting time of prayer. It is harmonious with both previous and post-admonitions; rejoice always coupled with in everything give thanks.
My prayer time has moved from prayer-burden to prayer-life because of learning the soaring route of thanksgiving when I pray. Because God is God and I am not my own god, I am free to declare every situation as valid blessing. I can be thankful for all things because even in ruin one will ultimately find blessings of God buried. He wastes not one crumb of hardship.
Thankful hearts signal the Holy Spirit that we give Him permission to roam. We open our own flood gates and let the marvel of God sweep through both our treasures as well as our train wrecks. Our confidence is linked directly to Him....II Cor. 3:4-5.
Open your life to the Spirit of God for you'll be nothing but a negative vendor pushing your sour grapes without Him. Thankfulness cures what ails us for the Living God thrives in such an atmosphere of heart.
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