What are you seeking?

Do you want a life of peace, contentment and joy? Then it is time to develop a life filled with praise and thanksgiving to God. The way in which the peace of God is going to rule in your hearts is through taking to heart the admonition, “be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15). In the very next verse in this passage, we have heart-felt thankfulness expressed in Word-filled songs (v. 16). Remembering God in song produces a peace as the praise situates our minds on Him (Isaiah 26:3-4). We should carry out our everyday conversations and actions to the glory of God with grateful hearts (Colossians 3:17). There should be no doubt in our minds, nor in the minds of others that God is good and his works are marvelous. Our lives can loudly testify of the source of our peace.

The rejoicing heart is tied closely to prayer (dependence upon God) at all times and in every circumstance with thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). There is joy in waiting on God and trusting in Him no matter what is taking place in our lives. Carrying out God’s will, even when we don’t feel like it, is always freeing and allowing the Spirit to provide His joy and peace! Our Lord is always worthy of our praise. The saying that God is too good to be unkind, and too wise to make mistakes is so very true. Job is a prime example of receiving everything in life as from his gracious God’s hand and with a true knowledge of his merciful God’s heart. “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:20–21). Job had lost so much from our perspective, and yet Job realized that all was not His, but only on loan from God for a time (of which time was within God’s prerogative). Our times are in His hand and His praise should remain upon our lips!