Blessings
‘Rejoice always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’
(Thessalonians 5:16-18)
As those who belong to Christ Jesus, we are to be filled with rejoicing,
prayer and thanksgiving. But we cannot simply decide to be joyful or thankful.
Our prayers, and especially our prayers of praise and thanksgiving arise
from the vision we have of God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
and in particular the wonderful works of God with which we are surrounded.
Have you ever been on a walk in God’s creation and simply praised him for what you see?
His blessings in nature are so abundant.
Have you noticed that your prayers have been answered and thanked him?
Have you been able to thank him even in the midst of distress
because you know that he is in charge and has not left you?
Have you thought about Jesus and all that he has
done for us and been moved to lift up your heart in worship?
That is what it means to rejoice, to pray and to thank God.
We do it for what he has blessed us with in Christ.
Question for thought: Am I counting my blessings?
Gracious Lord, please continue to uphold members in the Diocese of Nord Kivu in DR Congo
as beacons of hope in communities facing immense pressures and difficulties.
May the hope we have in you through Jesus give them courage to persevere in their many outreach activities.
We bring before you our members in Perth Diocese and pray for Jan Rose as Diocesan President.
Pray for the contact they have with South Sudanese members as they adjust to life in Australia.
Amen.