Day 5: Offer Up Thanksgiving

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.—1 Thess. 5:16-18

The workload is ominous, the days are long, and the responsibilities seem endless: such is the life of a leader. Around every corner is a new obstacle or opportunity. We wonder how we’re going to fit this new scenario into an already busy life; nonetheless, we must embrace our role and be thankful for the privilege to lead.

In 1 Thessalonians, we find a few short verses with great encouragement to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (5:16-18). Regardless of the mountains we have to climb, God is in control. Assuming we are caring for our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, we can overcome any obstacle and champion any opportunity.

Some days, though, we feel we cannot overcome the obstacle nor champion the cause set before us. This time is when we must pause, rejoice, go to prayer, and be thankful. It may feel like a trivial task. Too often, leaders are wired to push through in our own strength, even though intellectually we know it’s a resource in short supply. Instead, let’s embrace our seemingly trivial rejoicing and thanksgiving, knowing that they reverberate into eternity and that our ever-watchful God sustains us when the load is beyond our control.

Leadership Challenge: Read 1 Thessalonians 5

Take in these words of encouragement and write down each principle that applies to your current work or ministry. Pray through each principle, asking God to bring you into that place of rejoicing and thanksgiving. Give God the many thanks that He deserves for blessing you with the opportunity to lead.

Thank you for following this Bible plan. For those seeking a deeper experience, the full journey is available in the book Becoming a Biblical Leader: 30 Days of Scriptural Principle and Spiritual Growth by Pastor Jeremy Norton.