SEEK25 “One More Year”

One More Year: Aligning my Life with God’s Will: Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

¹⁶ Rejoice always,

¹⁷ pray constantly,

¹⁸ give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I. Rejoice Always:

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is Joy

Acts 16:20-25

²⁰ Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews

²¹ and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”

²² The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods.

²³ After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully.

²⁴ Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Nehemiah 8:10

“that the Joy of the Lord is your strength”

II. Pray Constantly:

Psalm 18:6

But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.

Psalm 34:17

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalm 77:1

I cried out to God for help, I cried out to God to hear me.

Matthew 6:5;7-8
⁵ “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people…

⁷ When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.

⁸ Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

III. Give Thanks in All things:

Romans 8:28

²⁸ We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Job 1:21

The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

¹⁰ So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Philippians 4:6-7

⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.