Scripture to Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:18-19
Today we focus on 1 Thessalonians 5:18-19. God tells us that we need to give thanks in everything because this is His will for us. As we saw God’s will for us in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, we see it here again; giving thanks is His perfect will for every believer. Giving thanks to our Lord is something we must put into practice every day. Sometimes we get so caught up in our selfish desires that we forget the precious gifts we already have and that they are all from our Lord (James 1:17). As a quick reminder here are a few things we can thank our Lord for daily: clean water to drink and bathe in, food to eat and the places we can buy that food from, electricity, the place we live in, the clothes we have, eyes to see, ears to hear, minds to learn, our family, our friends, appliances in our homes that make life easier, a vehicle to transport us, phones, computers, and other technology, etc…. The list of things to thank our Lord for could go on and on, but this list at least gets us started. Then God tells us not to quench (extinguish) His Holy Spirit living in us. As believers, we can choose to be unresponsive to the working and guidance of God’s Holy Spirit in us. God strictly warns us not to turn our backs on Him. We must submit to His Lordship in our lives at all times and listen to Him through His Word.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about being thankful and not quenching Him?
2. How will you start thanking the Lord daily? What will you do to guard yourself from quenching His Spirit in you?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!