Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1–3 NIV

• God wants us to live the

possible.

• Blessed is to be fully

by receiving God’s favor regardless of circumstances.

• In order to

the blessed life God intends, I must

Reveal Answer

the changes that He brings.

This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give you grace and peace. We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia. And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment. 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 NLT

How to Embrace Change and Enjoy the Blessed Life

1) I must turn away from the

of life.

Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, “Salvation comes from the Lord.” Jonah 2:8–9 NIV

2) I must turn toward

and begin

Reveal Answer

Him.

Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46 NIV

“Humans have the freedom to choose who their master will be, but they do not have the freedom to choose no master.”

3) I must begin living in view of

.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NIV

You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. 1 Peter 4:3 MSG

Will I embrace the radical changes Jesus brings or continue to

in worthless living?

Memory Verse

Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 GNT

Next Steps

I will join a Connection Group to grow in my relationships with God and others.

I will attend Celebrate Recovery this Friday to begin working on the life issues that are keeping me from a blessed life.