l Thessalonians 5: 16-18 NLT, " Always be joyful. Keep on praying, no matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus
Being thankful isn’t always having something and being thankful for it. Being thankful a lot of times will mean “I am going to be thankful in spite of my dismay”. Being thankful is often what we don’t feel like doing, but in the long run it brings you greater joy. In my case happiness is what is going on around me and more often than not I have none. But I can be thankful and that brings me true joy, something that most of the time has nothing to do with what is going on around me. I can be thankful that there is someone in my heart that has nothing to do with religion or my parent’s faith.
This is Jesus Christ, the greatest love I’ve ever known, my Friend, my Father, my Savior, my Teacher, my King and Lord.
Happiness doesn’t matter, however I am thankful for it when I have the pleasure of it. I have in me true joy deep inside that no one can ever take away. I have in me true joy that I can’t lose on any emotional roller coaster. I have in me a joy that satan can’t take away from me no matter how much he wants to. I have true joy in me in spite of all who judge me. I have in me true joy in spite of all who hurt me. I have in me true joy in me in spite of anyone that might not care if I live or die. I have in me true joy in spite of how tired I am. I have in me true joy no matter what my facial expression is. I have in me true joy even though people don’t understand. I have true joy in me in spite of anyone that might hate me. I am thankful for true joy.
To whoever reads this, as Thanksgiving approaches, I am thankful that we have had Youth for Christ for a year. We are about to go into our 2 nd year. I am thankful for all of the teens who have hungout with us. You have been the high light of my life.
My desire is:
1. to see you succeed
2. to help you avoid so many mistakes that I made as a teen and young adult
3. for you to be a committed fellower of Christ inspite of everything you have faced and will face and believe me you will be faced with much.
4. to see you go out and be responsible adults
5.to see you committed to a strong marriage
6. to see you committed to teach your kids about Christ
7. and much more.
Remember, for some of you, all of this is just a few years away. It will not be long. So, while you are still a teen take hold of Ecclesiastes 12:1 NLT, " Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator ( God ) Honor Him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living".
When the door of your adulthood opens and you step out, all the sudden you will see just how serious life can be and there will be much that will seek to take your joy and wipe you out. So, take heed to Ecclesiastes 12:1 and prepare now by your committed to Christ NOW.
alot with what Paul had to say is what God has been teaching me alot. just being thankful for what i do have. i have always hated when people told me that i need to be thankful its not worse or something when im telling them about my problems and i always said i know i am and blah blah...but in reality i was thankful and i said it...but i don't think i meant it so much as i thought i did. and with some things my dad said that really hurt my feelings....God showed me through that i really do have alot in life and how much i should be greatful for. and im glad he showed me:) but i just want to say thank you for taking your time and saying that devotional paul. it has helped as well. and i also just want to say that it is true that no matter what your going through you have something to be thankful for. and someone does prolly have it worst, but just know that doesn't make your problem nothing. just don't get caught up in it. and im here if you ever wanna talk...or well i can try my best but you know if im not there and if none of friends don't know you need them take it to God...hes always by your side:) i love you people so much and don't ever think different.
Man, The Insane Therapist, you are really on a roll here. " A " bells ringing in the head, "uh" OKKKK. Since you posted that under the devotional topic what is the spiritual significants of that, my "little Therapist".