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1 Thessalonians 3:11
In these first few chapters of 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul has been giving encouragement and prayer for the new Christians at Thessalonica. He has shown his concern and caring for them as fellow servants of Christ Jesus. His time with them was cut short by persecution and he longs to see them again to give them more guidance as they grow in Christ Jesus. While he is thankful for the report he has received of their faithfulness from his fellow servant Timothy, he puts his trust in God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ to guide him back to them (1 Thessalonians 3:11).
This is an example of putting our trust and faith in God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ to guide our paths, even when that path does not travel in the way in which we had first desired.
Sometimes, if not more often than not, our desires or direction in which we want to go, or see things take place, does not go in the way in which we had planned. These are times in which our faith is tested of continuing to trust in God and our Savior Jesus. It is not our will, with our earthly desires that matters most, but the will of God working to completion in our lives for His sake. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 16:24-27 (NKJV), “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”
Dear LORD,
It is not our own will but Your will that we desire in our lives. Please give us strength to give up our own selfish desires for our lives and allow You to fill us with the blessings You have in store for us in Your will for our lives. In Jesus name I pray, amen.