ACCEPTING GOD’S WILL

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." The  Apostle Paul's admonition requires us to exercise much faith. " "In every thing give thanks" is to be understood, that no matter what our circumstances or situations may be, we need to give thanks. How is this humanly possible? It is not. However, we can achieve such a position when we exercise faith; rely upon God and believe and accept (Romans 8:28), "that all things work together for good to them that love God." Every circumstance that we encounter is in accordance with God's will. Nothing happens without His knowledge. There is God's permissive will, where He allows or permits situations to occur and there is God's divine or perfect will, when conditions are according to His plan. When you get a job promotion; or when you have been healed of an ailment; or even when you found the keys that were misplaced, it is God's will - give thanks. The converse demands a similar response of thankfulness. When the telephone rings and you are informed of the sudden death of a family member; or when your newborn, a child that you have prayed for, is physically challenged; or even if you are in a strained relationship, you must acknowledge God's will. Failure to accept God's will,  harbours a spirit of discontentment, dissatisfaction and displeasure. As a result, we can reach the point of self-pity or even being angry with God and others. Cain was angry with God and his brother. Cain's apparent bitterness led him to murder Abel, his brother. Our verse of focus concludes, "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." It is God's divine, ultimate will, that, in everything, we give thanks. May we allow the Holy Spirit to develop the attitude and the faith in us, so that we will accept the bitter and the sweet, the good and the bad as God's will for us.