Challenge

I have a challenge for you, are you willing to except this challenge? Are you ready to see what God has for you today? This message will self destruct in 5 minutes. OK, not really, but it sounded good.

God is creating Himself a people that will obey His words, His call on our lives. He wants us to do, not just to be. He wants us to put what we know to work in our lives today, not just to put it off till tomorrow. It says in  James 4:14 is says "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." Or in Proverbs 27:1 "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."

We do not know what tomorrow holds for us, but we know what He is calling us to today. Matthew 6:33-34 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." And there are more: Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 1 Peter 5:6-7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

Those are not my words, those are God's words. He calls us to serve Him, not because it is easy, but because it is His honors and pleases Him. We were created, we were called to please Him. There are things we do that grieves Him and when we do not follow what the Bible tells us, can you imagine how that grieves Him? In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

My challenge today and the rest of the time is... Are you ready? In everything give thanks to God. He knows what you are going through, He knew you would go through it and it doesn't say only in the good do we give Him thanks, but in ALL circumstances. So no matter what you are going through, instead of questioning why, start thanking God for what you are going through, because in all things it will work out for His glory, not our own. We may not understand it, but He sure does. So in everything that you are going through, stop asking why and start saying Thank You Lord for ______ and thank you Lord for giving us Patience, Peace, Love, Joy, because He gave it to us so that we could walk in them and He will continue to pour it out on us, but we must walk in it. It is no longer about "I", I says why me, "I" don't want to, "I" don't like it. God calls us to stop with the "I's" and start walking in thanksgiving.

Thank You Lord__________________. God will change you, but you have to be willing to change and this is one change, but God will use it for His glory.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 "(Final Instructions)
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances;for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."