Title "Not because of, but because of"
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Not because of, but because of"
『Putting all the inferiority into a positive chance in life』
What comes to mind when you pray? People generally have the understanding that "Prayer is asking God for what I need." Such an understanding of prayer is very rudimentary. We need a deeper understanding of prayer. That is, “Prayer is a mirror through which you can see your spiritual state, your true self.” Those who remain at the beginning of their faith constantly pray to God for something. However, people who have deep faith realize their weakness in front of God and others while praying, rather than praying for God to say something, put them down before God and repent. Then, they seek maturity to embrace and serve new personalities, new lives, and different styles of people. It is truly precious to have such a life-changing life of prayer.
The word to pray without ceasing also includes the meaning of having hope in God. It is a difficult reality and it seems hopeless, but it is to have hope in God while praying. In the text we read together, we not only have hope while praying without ceasing, but also give thanks in everything and always rejoice.
Luke 12:25-26 says, “25 And who of you, by being anxious, can add one cubit to his stature? 26 So then, if even the smallest thing is impossible, why are you worried about another?” That's right. In the unavoidable reality, the difficult reality is still there for those who are concerned. If you get impatient and worry, you will only get more stress and only damage your health. In other words, the situation is not getting better, but getting worse. Don't just get tired, cry out to God, give thanks and rejoice. When you do that, please believe that God's work of improving will come.
To be grateful and rejoice in everything is to think and speak positively and live a positive life.
There is an American missile that played a major role in the Gulf War, a war between Iraq and the world multinational forces led by the United States. Before launching the missile, a picture of the target to be attacked is entered into the computer inside the missile. Then, if you fire a missile, you're in a hurry. This is due to the special camera lens attached to the warhead. This is because this lens allows the missile to target the photo entered into the computer. A person's thoughts are like pictures entered into a missile computer. Just as a missile searches for an inputted picture to a target, humans also follow the inputted thoughts in their minds.
There was a barrel half full of rice. One person saw this and said, “Oh! There is now only half of the rice left,” he said. The other saw the same bucket of rice and said, “Oh! There is still half of the rice left.” What makes a difference of point of view in the same situation like this? It creates a barren life with no leisure, and on the contrary, it creates a leisurely, peaceful life. A difference in perspective can lead to suicide or a life full of opportunity and hope. The difference of point of view is so terrifying and huge.
The obstacles in life are not circumstances or conditions. The biggest obstacle in our path is our negative and pessimistic self-image. So, in order to live a successful life, you don't have to change the world or your environment, but change your thoughts and yourself. The moment when you change your thoughts and yourself becomes the turning point of your life. God's work is done by people of faith who have a positive self-image. Believe that a person with a positive self-image can become a spiritual giant and create a new history in an age of darkness.
What matters is not the pain itself, but the attitude to interpret it. What does God want to give you through this suffering? What does God require of me? It is important to know what God's purposes and plans are.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.” Whether it be hardship or failure, pain or success, it is said that all things come together to reach the providence of God, that is, the good that God has set.
We are living in the immense benefits of God's blessings. When people lose consciousness and fall due to a vascular disorder such as a major traffic accident, high blood pressure, or heart attack, artificial respiration is provided through an oxygen cylinder. However, the oxygen value of an oxygen cylinder that can be used for 84 hours is said to be 960 dollars. Calculated in 24 hours a day, this is equivalent to $274. Human beings live with free supply of oxygen worth 274 dollars a day by the grace of God. In addition, we use countless living beings as plants every moment of every day to preserve and maintain our lives at the expense of countless living things. We humans are creatures of sacrifice. When we realize, what do we have to complain about, living in the midst of such tremendous benefits? Can't we just be thankful and rejoice?
Jesus died on the cross to give us a new life, a new life, a new opportunity and hope, and a positive life full of thanks and joy. He paid the price of sacrifice by being nailed to the cross to change negatives into positives and problems, worries, and anxiety into feng gangs.
Dear brothers and sisters, I hope that all of us here will become positive people who say thanks, not because of, through the words you have given us. God uses positive people and works amazing things with positive people. In the name of Jesus, I pray that you will become a positive person in God and in your faith in God, live a life in heaven and full of power, and a blessed life that spreads the virus of positiveness wherever you go.