What’s Next?

 Elevate your perspective.

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

 When I graduated from high school I remember thinking, “Now what?” “Where do I go from here?” “God—what is your will for my life?” I was perplexed because, up to that point, most of my education/opportunities had been programmed—from Kindergarten through High School.

 But now what—what is my next step?

 Since that time, I’ve realized that, while there are any number of opportunities that I could take, there are some meta-principles that will open up our vision to God’s direction for our lives.

 Here, the apostle says, is God’s will for you as you follow Christ:

 First, rejoice regularly—recognize God’s purposes in your life. Know that what comes into your life may not be what you’ve planned. Yet, because God is a good Father, you can be truly happy in what he provides.

 Second, pray continually—bring him your cares and confess your doubts. Tell him what you need and thank him for what he has done. He is never too busy, and he is a good, good Father who loves to hear what weighs on the heart of his children.

 And finally, give thanks frequently—Thank him in every circumstance. And thank those that he has placed around you for the contributions they have made in your life. An attitude of gratitude can reframe our circumstances in a whole different light.

 It is from here—the vantage point of contented, prayerful gratitude—that we gain a life-changing perspective on God’s unfolding plan in our lives.

Bill Herried is lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma, Washington. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon. He is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren and loves a good biryani. You can learn more about Bill on his blog, Your Daily Encouragement

Photo by Kalen Emsley on Unsplash