Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The subject of God’s will for the individual Christian always promotes lively debate. How are we to know what God’s will is for us? While the discussion continues, we can know for certain at least three things that are God’s will for every Christian: to rejoice always, to be persistent in prayer, and to live with an attitude of gratitude in all things.

When Paul wrote that “this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,” he was likely referring to all three of the disciplines he had just mentioned—not just to the last one about giving thanks. And it is not incidental that his very next words were a warning about quenching the Holy Spirit’s fire (1 Thessalonians 5:19). When the Holy Spirit is given free range in the Church, Christians will manifest joy, will be consistent in prayer, and will be grateful (along with other manifestations—Galatians 5:22-23). Joy, prayer, and gratitude are three “barometers” which can reveal the presence of the Holy Spirit and how yielded Christians are to His filling and leading.

Based on these three measures, are you walking in God’s will today?

The essence of Christian ethics is gratitude.
R. C. Sproul