November 6, 2023: Joyful Always

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, NLT)

 It is the will of God that we be thankful in all circumstances. Thanksgiving is the essence of Christian living. This should be the natural expression of all who call themselves Christians.
 
So, what does it mean to be thankful? In the New Testament, the Greek word for thanksgiving is "Eucharististo.'" It means 'to be thankful' or 'to give thanks.' Some churches call communion time 'the eucharist.'
 
The root word of eucharisto is charis (grace). Therefore, we are grateful for God's grace first and foremost. "Chara' means joy. Joy is what you experience when you are thankful for the grace that has been given to you. Understand this because you cannot do what God is asking if you don't. Gratitude without understanding grace can't produce joy.
 
Grace exists in every situation of life that we find ourselves in. The key is seeing that grace and knowing that it is God's ability in us, empowering us to get through every situation and circumstance in life. This is why I say, "You have to find God when life is difficult!" I am saying that you have to be able to see and receive the grace of God when life is hard. Being thankful in all circumstances produces the joy we experience when finding His grace. Therefore, I can always be joyful if I can see His grace.