Hey, Kyle Lance Martin with Time To Revive and welcome to God Today. As we travel all over the United States, there is a common thread that we get with people. They say, “How do you know if you are in the will of God? How do you know if you are doing what God wants you to do?” I think it is an incredible question – I just think we over-complicate it. I think we think it has to look like this five-year game plan, or this ten-year spelled-out, “Oh, I gotta have everything lined up.” I think it is actually the complete opposite.
In fact, the apostle Paul was talking to the church of Thessalonica. He says this, “This is God’s will,” He says – in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – He says, “This is how you function in God’s will. First of all [verse 16] rejoice always.” You can know if you are doing God’s will, first of all, if you are just rejoicing. The second component of being in God’s will, scripture says is: pray constantly. So am I in God’s will? Well, the question is, are you rejoicing? And are you praying? Not just praying once before lunch, or once before dinner, but you are praying constantly. We are rejoicing: that’s God’s will. You are praying: that’s God’s will. The third component? You give thanks in everything. You are praying, you are rejoicing, and you are giving thanks. That means you are in the sweet spot of God’s will. In fact – in summary – it says, “Give thanks for everything. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Three things: rejoice, pray, and give thanks. That’s how you know you are in God’s will.
Heavenly Father, we pray right now that somebody, maybe right now, they don’t have this perspective. They don’t think they know what they are doing -just start rejoicing. God, thank you. Start praising the Lord, they start thanking the Lord, these different things. Lord, I pray right now that they have this heart of rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks. Lord, I believe you want us to be in your will. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.