Standing on the threshold of a new year often fills us with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. The road ahead is uncharted, and while resolutions may falter, resolve stands firm. As I reflect on this, I’m reminded of the Apostle Paul, a man of singular resolve, who epitomized the determination to press forward in Christ. He lived without compromise, without looking for an exit, and without entertaining an alternative. Forward in Christ was his only direction.

This mindset finds a perfect anchor in Paul’s exhortation to the Thessalonians:

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

These three commands—rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks—capture my hopes for the coming year. They are simple in wording yet profound in implication, calling us to live out our faith with intentionality and resolve.

Rejoice Always

Joy, I have learned, is not an emotion that comes and goes with changing circumstances. Instead, it is an attitude of the mind and a resolve of the heart. It flows not from external events but from the unchanging truth of Christ, who is the anchor of our souls. Whether facing calm waters or tempestuous seas, I find joy in the One who does not change. As the Psalmist declares:

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to Him with my song” (Psalm 28:7, BSB).

How does this speak to you? Can you see joy as a choice rather than a reaction, rooted in who Christ is rather than in what the world gives or takes away?

Pray Without Ceasing

Prayer is the lifeline of resolve. My first pastor often reminded me of Luke 18:1: “At all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart” (NASB). Prayer strengthens us, aligning our hearts with God’s and connecting us to His power. It is through prayer that we receive the Spirit’s help, as Paul writes:

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26, BSB).

This truth humbles and encourages me. Prayer does not depend on my eloquence or strength but on the Spirit’s work within me. As we step into the unknown, let us commit to pray, trusting that God’s Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

In Everything Give Thanks

Of these three commands, this one may challenge us the most. It forces us to examine our motives for following Christ. Do we trust Him only in prosperity, or can we, like Job, say, “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” (Job 2:10, BSB).

Gratitude in adversity reveals the depth of our faith. It reflects our confidence in God’s sovereign goodness, even when we cannot see the full picture. The wisdom of Chrysostom reminds us: “In everything give thanks” means not only in deliverance from evils but also at the time when we suffer those evils.

This resolve requires us to wrestle with our hearts. Can we echo the words of the Proverbs, seeking neither excess nor lack, but only enough to honor God each day (Proverbs 30:8–9)? And can we, like David, bless the Lord at all times, with praise continually on our lips (Psalm 34:1)?

As the year unfolds, these hopes of resolve will guide my steps. They are not grounded in my strength but in Christ’s. Like Joshua, I affirm, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15, NASB). And as Luther famously declared, “Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me.” Amen.

Cross References:

• Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
• Colossians 4:2: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
• Ephesians 5:20: “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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