Casandra Martin

My son is turning into a man. Upset, with tears rolling down my cheeks, my son saw me and came over to hug me, asking me what was wrong. I began to tell him the story of my day when he interrupted me. “Just tell me the wrong part.” He didn’t want to hear the whole tale, just the wrong part. Cut to the chase. Get to the bottom line.

I smiled in spite of my horrible day (a) because it was such a ‘guy’ thing to do, and (b) because I can appreciate that sometimes we need to get down to the essentials. What are the basics? Sometimes I make it more complicated than it needs to be.

I think that is why God has been working so hard to impress 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 deeply into my heart. These ten words, three essentials, sum up “the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” In the midst of all my drama and crazy busyness, God gives us the basics that will propel us into His will and align us with His deep purpose for our hearts.

Rejoice always.

Pray without ceasing.

Give thanks in all circumstances.

Wow. Ten life-changing, perspective-altering, heart-shaping, peace-enhancing, purpose-pursuing, worship-drenched, surrender-required words. The essentials. The basics. The will of God for me.

My Jesus Resolution today is to write these ten words on my heart. I am going to commit them to memory. I am going to repeat them through my day. I want them to soak down deeply and touch the core of who I am. As we walk together through the next several blogs, I would like to explore the power, purpose, and promises contained in these essential words, and watch wide-eyed as God reveals Himself to us. Ready to get down to basics?