The will and the way

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18

IS it possible to know God’s will for you, and then to do it? We pray, “Your will be done…”, but can we do it? The scripture above gives you a precise answer; God’s will for us is 1) to always be joyful 2) to never stop praying, and 3) to be thankful in all circumstances. So, we do know, but the problem lies with “always”, “never”, and “in all circumstances”. That seems impossible when troubles come, and things go wrong. But it can be done! The answer is in the last phrase, “you who belong to Jesus”. We can’t be constantly godly, but Jesus can; He can make it happen. He died on the cross for us, He sent His Holy Spirit to “plead for us as believers to be in harmony with God’s own will”. If we let the Spirit guide us, regardless of our troubles, God has promised to keep “your whole spirit and soul and body” blameless until Jesus comes again.