Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.

Do you ever wonder if something is God’s will? I’m learning to trust Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. If I’m unsure, I can ask Him. There have been times in my life when No has been so apparent that there was no question of His will. Listen for His voice. He will never lead you astray. As I read our next chapter, Proverbs 6, I sensed the almost frantic nature of the warnings Solomon was giving to his sons. Something happens and we worry for our kids and we go into overdrive with warnings. Always you can read the whole chapter when I only highlight parts that speak to me. This part is given without any need for frantic: There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. v. 16-19.

Can we see the wisdom in all that God speaks for us against what is harmful? It doesn’t take long to realize when what we have done is harmful and we wish we could take it back. My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life…v. 20-24. We can be sure of God’s love and that every instruction He gives is for our good. And as we listen to His voice, we grow stronger in His love and His wisdom given for all of us. Given…not forced. Our choice always. We are all of us learning. We are all of us making mistakes and causing hurt and harm. Even if we only hurt ourselves with our wrong thinking, how great is that hurt? Thankfully, we have a God who loves us and understands what we are made of because He made us. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. Ephesians 1:3-10. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. Can we thank God for so great a Love? Can we listen for His voice showing us a better way with Him?