Focused Trajectory

Every decision we make impacts the trajectory of our lives.

Every decision that you made in 2012 added up to where you are today.

What about 2013?  What will inform your decisions?

What will set your trajectory?

I often hear people ask, "What is God's will for my life?  

I have heard this question echo from person after person in various forms.  "What does God want for my life?" "What is the right decision? "How do I know what I should do?"

Today, I saw one response that can point us in focused direction.  The You Version app Bible verse of the day is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

The apostle Paul gives one description of God's will - to be joyful, pray, give thanks...

We live in a world where we are surrounded marketing and advertisements. Recently, marketers have embraced simplicity thanks in good part to companies like Southwest Airlines.  One pattern that I have observed has been the use of the three-phrase description for a vision statement or company mission statement. "Go, Live, Win" and other examples abound.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 provides a focused trajectory or vision for your life - God's will or his loving intention and desire for you life.

Be joyful. Pray. Give thanks.

Be joyful always
Joy is deeper than fleeting & changing happiness.  Deep joy is oftentimes found in genuine relationships. To be always full of joy is a work of the Holy Spirit because joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is something we can and should ask for. Joy is a gift that we can request.  We can request to be joyful always.

Pray continually
This too is a work of God because he invites us into prayer constantly.  God is always desiring to hear from us.  To pray continually means to be constantly open and listening for God's promptings and then responding to him in every situation - every conversion, every decision, every response to a person or situation.

Give thanks in all circumstances
If the first two are happening, then this one will flow from them. If God provides deep, soul-level joy and we constantly interact with God through prayer and know that he is there for us, then our automatic response will be to give thanks to God.  Gratitude is a marker of spiritual maturity and it flows from the first two actions here in relationship with God - the one to whom all thanksgiving is properly and wonderfully given!

Key Questions:

• What informs the trajectory of your life?
• What is God's will for your life?
• How can you respond to the loving God through your moment-by-moment decisions?

Be joyful. Pray. Give thanks.
 
This is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  This provides a focused trajectory.

My Prayer: Almighty God, heavenly Father, may I follow your will as seen in these verses today. I ask for a focused trajectory in my life.  I need your grace to do this.  For your name's sake.  Amen