PRAY FOR 40 DAYS OF PRAYER -DAY 37

Dear Friends and Colleagues in the Faith:
PRAY FOR 40 DAYS OF PRAYER -DAY 37
1 Thessalonians 5:18
18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.


Today we are celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States. It’s a time when families get together and have dinner and share what they are thankful for. So often we begin by thanking God for the people and possessions in our lives and rightfully so, He is a gracious and loving God. The question we must wrestle is, if those things were taken away from us, would we still be thankful? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. How do you give thanks in all circumstances? How can you accept tragedy as God’s will for you? Think of the people in Haiti. How can they give thanks for their situation and accept it as God’s will for their lives? The answer is in the last two words of that verse, “in Christ.” For it is in Christ that you can find joy in the midst of trial. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us,… for the Joy of the Lord is your strength. Even while they are going through difficult times we can trust that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard (their) hearts and (their) minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. And in the end we know that “my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19. It is in Christ Jesus we can give thanks in all circumstances. Outside of Christ our circumstances can dominate us and render us hopeless, but in Christ, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. The Lord also gives us this assurance in Rom 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. So often we misinterpret this verse thinking it say all thing are good. It says all things work together for good, so that means we have to wait to see the end product and not focus on what is happening here and now. With that said, I can’t wait to see what God has in store for Haiti. When I think of the possibilities, I can’t help but to begin to give God thanks now for what I know He can do and will do for Haiti. Tonight as we pray ask the Lord to help our Haiti brothers & sisters in Haiti to give God thanks in spite of their circumstances.

With U4 Him

Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church