SWHW Bible Reading Plan: November 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Liz Patton:

“Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I’m going to take a wild guess that you probably already have those verses highlighted in your Bibles--because this is such sweet encouragement; isn’t it?  

These verses remind us that there is a difference between happiness and joy.  Happiness comes and goes, it’s fleeting, and it’s usually based on external things.  Joy, on the other hand, comes from within, and it can be constant when our eyes are fixed on Christ, not our circumstances.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Be the thermostat, not the thermometer”?  A thermometer changes its temperature based on its surroundings.  When the environment is hot, it will register hot.  When the environment is cold, it registers cold.  

I picture happiness being like the thermometer.  When things are going your way, when you get what you want, when your kids behave, your spouse unloads the dishwasher for you, you have the perfect uninterrupted quiet time, the light turns green, your co-worker brings you a latte, or (fill in the blank), you feel happy.

A thermostat, on the other hand, maintains a desired temperature no matter the surroundings.  It’s not easily swayed and makes the temperature of its surroundings match it!  So even when you’re faced with an uncertain future, your kids are fighting, your quiet time gets cut short, you spill your coffee, work feels overwhelming, you’re sitting in traffic, or (fill in the blank),  you can still find joy.  

How is this possible?  Look at verses 17 and 18 one more time.

Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances.

I think I overcomplicate this so many times!

The simple truth is that when we are in constant communication throughout our day with our good, good Father, we aren’t fixing our attention on ourselves or our circumstances; we are fixing our eyes on Him!  

And even better, when we are thankful in all circumstances, we aren’t thinking about what’s wrong, we are focused on what is right.  And the reality is that grateful people are just more joyful people.  We can’t have complaints and praise/gratitude coming out of the same mouth, can we? (See James 3:10)!  I realize that you’re probably reading this right around Thanksgiving, and so it’s a little bit easier to focus on gratitude right now.  But Paul is telling us to be thankful not just at Thanksgiving, but in ALL circumstances!  Amen?

So, sisters, today let’s be thermostats, not thermometers, for those around us.  Because when we live this way, others notice something different about us.  And that something different has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with the Holy Spirit that is living inside of us.  

Dear God, today we choose to be Your joyful daughters.  We don’t just want to say this prayer and then move on about our business-- we want to talk with You all day long.  And because we belong to You, we will choose to be thankful in all circumstances, no matter what comes our way today.  Help us live in such a way that those who don’t know You will come to know You because they see something different about us.  We love You so very much!  In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.