Week Two: What is the Will of God?

Well, you have made it one full week during this Lenten season!  How do you feel?  I pray that you feel lighter...closer to God...clearer in thought...motivated to do better!  Whatever you feel...just don't quit!  Stay strong because we have a few more weeks to go, and I believe the reward is going to be monumental.

Week Two:  What is the will of God?

Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

Objective:  To discover the will of God and begin to DO IT!

This second week of Lent calls for us to go beyond our knowledge.  The will of God calls for a change in our actions.  Am I treating the people of God the way God urges me to or I am responding according to the way I feel?  God places so many different people in our lives to be a blessing to our daily walk.  He also gives us spiritual leaders to help keep us close to Him through their knowledge and reverence of God.  It is essential, according to Paul's letter to the church at Thessalonica, that we respect those individuals whom God has placed over us "in the Lord" and love them.  As we do this, it will enable us to walk in peace with one another.  The scripture is clear:

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.  Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.  Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

This is the will of God?  Yes, our prayer life should compel us to treat others as God desires for us to treat them.  Our prayer life should compel us to respond to situations and circumstances in a completely different way.  When others respond to hardship with headache and despair, it is the will of God that we respond with JOY, CONTINUOUS PRAYER, and THANKSGIVING!  As we do so, we are doing the will of God.

THIS WEEK'S LENTEN CHALLENGE:

Take a moment and think about the people whom God has allowed to come into your life.  Have you prayed for them?  Have you sought God on their behalf and demonstrated love towards them?  Try to do something tangible in that area this week.  As you pray for those around you, remember that someone else is also praying for you.  Also, think about circumstances that easily bring you down or cause you to worry.  Instead of worrying this week, I challenge us to write down reasons to have joy about those very situations.  As we do so, I challenge us to thank God even though the circumstance may not be exactly what we desire for it to be.  Remember, this Lenten season stretches us and our faith...let's do it together!

PRAYER:

Most Mighty and Awesome God!  Thank you for bringing us through the first week of the Lenten season.  During this second week, touch our hearts and motivate our spirits to live the way you desire for us to live.  Touch our hearts and motivate our spirits to respect those whom you have placed over us in the Lord.  Touch our hearts and motivate our spirits to love and live in peace with one another-not repaying wrong for wrong, but striving to give what Christ gives us (unconditional love).  Touch our hearts and motivate our spirits to trust you enough to be joyful in all circumstances because we know that You will not fail us!  Touch our hearts and motivate our spirits to keep praying and believing that You are indeed able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think.  We ask this all in the mighty name of Jesus, and so we are compelled to thank you even while we wait.  Amen.