WEEKLY REFLECTION – 19 JAN 24 BY DR TAN TEK SENG
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Joy is not dependent on favorable situations but can be chosen as an attitude even in challenging times.
John Wesley was an 18th-century Anglican cleric, theologian and evangelist who founded the Methodist movement. He believed in the joy of the Lord as a source of strength, the power of unceasing prayer, and the practice of thanksgiving in all circumstances. His most famous quote is: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”His teachings and writings, focusing on personal spirituality and social justice, had a profound impact on Christianity and continue to influence the Methodist tradition today.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 exhort believers to have a continuous and grateful relationship with God, maintain a positive and faithful attitude, to continually engage with God through prayer, and to cultivate thankfulness, regardless of circumstances.
“The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.”
-Norman Vincent Peale