Always Is Forever

January 12, 2012

“Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

What is it we don’t understand about the word “always?” There are exceptions nearly to everything but to a few words there are no exceptions, and “always” is one of those words. Webster’s very definition of this word shows there are no exceptions: “the whole, only, at all times, invariably, forever, without exception.”

Because today's scripture says “always” be joyful – it means what it says – there is never a situation in which we should not be joyful. How can we be joyful in what we consider a bad situation? We must remember that the Almighty God is in charge and is there ready to help in the direst situation and has a reason for permitting your situation to happen.

Again we are told to always keep on praying no matter what happens. Matthew 7:7 says to “ask and keep on asking.” It isn’t that God doesn’t know our situation, but His time may not be our time that we want Him to act. He wants us to “wait” on Him in trust. Nor is it that He is not able to help – He is the Almighty God and He promises that we can do all things through Him Who strengthens us (Phil.4:13). Or it may be that we have unconfessed sin in our lives and God “will” not hear us (Psalm 66:18). Sin breaks our fellowship with God. Pray the prayer of confession for all your known sins, then His ears will be open to hear you and we can come in confidence before Him bringing our petitions.

Next, our text verse says, “No matter what happens, always be thankful.” Grumbling is sin (remember the Children of Israel in the wilderness?). We may have to have an attitude change, but we must if we want our prayers heard and answered; “for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Be Still My Soul
Katharina von Schlegel

Be still, my soul – the Lord is on your side! Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide – in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul – your best, your heavenly friend thru stormy ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul – your God does undertake to guide the future as He has the past;
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake – all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul – the waves and winds still know His voice Who ruled them while He lived below.

Be still, my soul – the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul – when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.