The days are evil, and the Lord is near (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2). God’s will for us in this present evil age is to make the most of our time on earth (Eph 5:16) and to continue to be sanctified (23). God who saved us is faithful, and he will surely sanctify us as we follow him (24).

Furthermore, we should rejoice always and give thanks for all things (16). We rejoice and give thanks, first and foremost, because our all-powerful God humbled himself to save us from our sin and misery. We rejoice because despite our shortcomings, he uses our short lives to build his kingdom. We praise him because Jesus will come again in glory, and our victory is sure in him. We give thanks because through our tears and heartbreak on earth, God’s saving grace remains eternal and serves as our spirits’ anchor.

We should also pray without ceasing. Prayer is our mode of direct communication with God throughout the day. It is often in prayer that the Holy Spirit convicts us of our wayward ways and reorients our thoughts and actions back to God’s ways. Prayer strengthens our souls, and it pleases God when we pray in faith. Indeed, the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16).
Application: Lord, we praise you and thank you for walking with us this past year.
One Word: Rejoice, pray, and give thanks