What 3 things MUST consume our lives? Joy, Prayer, and Thanksgiving. The original Greek puts the emphasis on the all consuming aspects putting direct emphasis on the words "Evermore, without ceasing, and in Everything." Paul uses it positively saying "Be consumed in everything!" Not exclusive of everything else but INCLUSIVE! Not consumed by our grief, sorrow, sadness, or emotions, but an attitude and disposition that consumes us COMPLETELY and affects everything else. Where do you stand in every aspect and the various aspects of your life? The triad of Joy and Prayer, and Thanksgiving? What do others see on your face? Smiles of joy? Clenched hands of despair or hands folded in prayer? Joy is gladness, happiness, satisfaction....the delight that lifts the soul into happiness. Unspeakable joy in Christ that brings satisfaction beyond all things. Joy that we who are sinners know that our sins are forgiven...and that heaven awaits us! And then we can see the connection between these three things.....A walk with God...fellowship with Him or continual prayer as we saw last week as Enoch walked with God! This joy of this walk with God becomes our delight and our thanksgiving!

What is in our lives that we can show as a reason for our happiness? The world around us builds and has fame and fortune yet suicide rates are at their highest. Despair is everywhere and no one has any real solutions and there is no joy or happiness. And the child of God has joy because we belong to Christ and we have everything! A treasure we have that no one or nothing in this world can give us! And no one can ever take it away from us! The world can boast in the things they have but take note that it all belongs to us as it all belongs to God who will give us ALL things in Christ!

What do your hands do? Your eyes say about you? What does your heart reflect? It is the will of God for you! That you and I will be to the praise of His glory- His Design! And shouldn't you and I live in JOY, in COMMUNION with Him?