THURSDAY: THERE WILL BE A TEST

Aug 25, 2022
2 min read

Lord, I’m looking for Your will in my life today, and I know You will reveal it through Your Word. Help me listen and hear with a pure heart as you cleanse my heart daily.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

If I want to know what God’s will for me in Christ Jesus, it tells me right here. He wants me to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Not just some of the time, but always, continually, and in all circumstances. That sounds hard to do.

The Spirit of God is constantly at work and moving in my heart. If I follow the Spirit more often, then I can definitely improve how often I’m rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks. However, if I choose to intentionally be ungrateful, complain, and self-absorbed, I will quench the Spirit.

Do I need to rejoice in everything? Paul and Silas rejoiced in the midst of a trying situation—being held prisoner in a Roman jail for preaching the gospel. They probably weren’t happy about their situation, but they did not let that rob them of joy. Instead of quenching the Spirit, they allowed the Spirit to give them the right perspective, and their voices erupted in songs of praise.

There is a method to following the Spirit: I need to test everything—every thought, motive, and action I have--to determine if it is holy or self-centered. If I find it is holy, I should hold on to it. If I determine it is self-centered, then I need to reject it.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: So, how do I test to determine what to hold on to and what to let go? I can start with the obvious—is it pleasing to God? If it doesn’t pass this first test, I need to throw it out; if I keep the thought, motive, or action, then I’m doing it for prideful reasons. The second test is this: Is this what God has called me to do? If I feel peace in my heart regarding it, then most likely yes; if not, then probably no. A third test would be is it in God’s timing? Only God can answer that. If I feel God has called me to something, but the peace is not there, then perhaps the calling will come when His timing is right.

I can’t help but imagine if I’m rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks all the time, and those around me are doing the same, then it is a similar experience on earth, as it is in heaven.

Lord, help me to see Your perspective in all things, and don’t allow me to quench the Holy Spirit, but instead allow Him to guide me closer to You, so I rejoice, pray, and give thanks always, continually, and in all circumstances.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman