Learning to be Thankful, Joyful, & Content

(Hi! I'm Megan, one of the co-authors on Modern Christian Girls. Please be sure to read my profile, and feel free to visit my other blogs!)

 In theme w/ Mondays post, & what I have been learning this week, my first post on Modern Christian Girls will be on learning how to be thankful, joyful, & content in all circumstances, & becoming a  godly woman who honors God. Now, it is MUCH easier said than done; believe me! These are 3 traits that God has been sanctifying me in these past few months. (Along w/ patience)

I am in the middle of reading the book "Created to Be His Help Meet" by Debi Pearl. So far it is great!  The book is on learning to be a godly woman, & how to honor your husbands, & God. Now, I'm not married, but this book is great in helping to prepare young ladies & teach them how they can honor their future husbands, & God by honoring your father (or those who are in authority over you,) while you are still under his authority, & roof. It's not directed towards un-married women necessarily, (I'm only on chapter 9) but we can still learn from it so we are prepared for when that time comes!

The first several chapters are on learning to be thankful & joyful in ALL things! (Hebrews 3:15, Psalm 27:6, 1 Chronicles 16:8, 29:13, 2 Samuel 22:50, Psalm 33:1, Colossians 1:11-12 3:15 . That's just a few! Search on Bible Gateway, or in your Bible for more verses.) This really got me. Our present living situation isn't ideal, but God has us here for a reason, & I need to stop complaining, & instead, ask God to give me the patience to endure it, and to be thankful we are all together, healthy, & we have shelter!

" ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude(which is thankfulness) in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV - emphasis & definition mine)

READY: April 18

Today's passage: 1 John 4, NIV, courtesy of BibleGateway.org.

Highlighted characteristic of God: Jesus is God. There are so many facets to that statement that we can't examine them all in one paragraph--Jesus gave us commandments, Jesus loves us enough to come to earth, Jesus lived a perfectly exemplary life, etc.--but the main point in this passage is that remembering Jesus' life (and following it) can help us stay strong in God. God wants us to have a relationship with Jesus, and He wants us to follow Him.
In two words: Jesus empowers.

Highlighted characteristic for us: Test your moods! Okay, the passage deals with spirits, but I think it's a point worth making...girls, we know we're moody, and as teens, it's pretty easy to be moody most of the time. So stay on your guard. What you perceive as "unfair" may or may not be worth your time arguing about. What you perceive as "defending your--and God's-- reputation" might actually be a flare-up of pride. Be careful. Ask yourself the WWJD question, remember Bible verses you've memorized about Jesus, and ask the Holy Spirit if your mood is from Him or from sin.
In three words: Strength through alertness.