The Will of God for Your Life
God’s will is not a mystery to solve but a life to be lived in Christ.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
More Than a Mystery
In over 40 years of leading disciples, I can’t count the times I’ve heard: “
I just wish I knew what God’s will was for my life.” Usually, people ask about career choices, major decisions, or what to do next in a difficult situation. But Scripture makes something clear:
God’s will isn’t first about where you go or what you do—it’s about who you are becoming.
Part of our becoming is being transformed into the image of Christ. Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks flow not from duty, but from relationship—seeing this life as His, not ours, with Christ’s life lived through us. The will of God is not meant to be an elusive mystery. Paul tells us plainly: rejoice, pray, give thanks. When we live this way, we are already walking in His will.
Rejoice Always
Joy isn’t dependent on circumstances but on Christ Himself.
Paul wrote this command from prison, not from comfort. Rejoicing doesn’t mean pretending hardship isn’t real—it means anchoring your heart in God’s goodness. When joy flows from Him, it becomes unshakable.
Pray Continually
Prayer is more than words spoken at set times; it is a life lived in continual communion with God. To “pray without ceasing” is to carry an ongoing awareness of His presence, leaning on Him in the ordinary and extraordinary alike. Prayer keeps us in step with His Spirit, sensitive to His guidance, and rooted in His love.
Give Thanks in All Circumstances
Gratitude is not denial of difficulty but a declaration of God’s goodness in the middle of it.
Giving thanks in everything does not mean everything is good, but it means God is good in everything.
Thanksgiving opens our eyes to His faithfulness, strengthens our trust, and guards our hearts from bitterness.
Walking in His Will
Once you embrace these profound yet straightforward commands, you can rest—not because you’ve mastered them, but because God Himself is at work in you. “For
it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).
His Spirit empowers the rejoicing, the praying, the gratitude.
Our part is surrender; His part is transformation. As we yield, He shapes us more and more into Christ’s likeness, and in this, we find ourselves living squarely in His will.
Reflection
Where is God inviting you to let Christ live His life through you with joy, prayer, and gratitude?
How does it encourage you to know that God Himself is working in you to fulfill His will?
What would change if you saw His will not as a mystery to solve but as a life to be lived in Christ?
Closing Prayer