For our adult Sunday School, we have been studying the book of 1 Thessalonians under the video teaching of Ben Stewart. Last week, as Ben was explaining the verses – “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), he said to have this disposition of living in joy and prayer and thanksgiving is “good for you”. Then Ben read from a Wall Street Journal study that speaks of the health giving qualities of thankful living. Here’s what the article says,
‘It turns out giving thanks is good for your heath. A growing body of research suggests that maintaining an attitude of gratitude can improve psychological, emotional, and physical well- being. In adults they found more optimism, more friends, more happiness, they are less depressed, less greedy, less alcoholic, earn more money, sleep more soundly, have greater resistance to viral infection.” (Wall Street Journal)
When the Lord gives us commands to do something or not to do something, it’s because He’s our loving Father who knows best and wants the best for us. But isn’t that just how we’d think the Lord would work? Whatever He tells us to do – is good for us because He loves us!
With Halloween behind us and in the gearing up for Christmas, we have this month of November as an opportunity to take the words of 1 Thessalonians to heart and to our health.
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
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