Rejoicing While Serving

Praise the Lord! Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever. Everywhere—from east to west—praise the name of the Lord. For the Lord is high above the nations; His glory is higher than the heavens. Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and earth. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, even the princes of His own people! He gives a childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. Praise the Lord! [Psalm 113] 

“I will rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything I will give thanks for this is Your will in Christ Jesus for me to do. I will not quench the Spirit. I will do my best to never despise prophecies. I will learn to examine all things, firmly holding onto what is good. I will abstain from all appearances of evil. May You, the God of peace, sanctify me completely. I continue to pray for my whole spirit, soul, and body to be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I will be faithful for I am called by Christ and I will serve Him with all of my life.” [1 Thessalonians 5:16-24] 

For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen me with power through His Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within me, to Him be glory, Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21