Pastor Cheri
PRAYER
Precious Father, we thank you for another time of fellowship with your Word, our hearts and minds are open to receive your engrafted and undiluted Word that is able to save our souls. We receive all that you have for us today, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” Colossians 1:12
The Bible says God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). This is enough to make you ecstatic with gratitude to the Lord every day of your life.
How could anyone read or hear that and still be complaining? God wants us to give thanks every day, not complaints. The Scripture is clear in saying that this is the will of God concerning you: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
A life of daily thanksgiving, however, doesn’t suggest a life devoid of challenges. Challenges may come, but in the midst of it all, lift your hands and say, “Lord, I give thanks, for greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world.” There’s no need to complain or grumble about any situation; as a child of God, you were born into victory; you can’t be disadvantaged.
Romans 8:28 says, “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” This is why the Lord expects you to always give thanks. Even now, lift your hands and give thanks because you’ve overcome the world; you’re more than a conqueror!
In the same prayer of Paul, where the Lord expressed His desire for us to be fruitful in every good work, He also tells us to give thanks: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work…Giving thanks unto the Father…” (Colossians 1:10-12).
Complainers can’t be fruitful in every good work; they can’t be effective soul winners. Instead, complainers gripe about their perceived misfortune. Don’t be that way; rather, give thanks.
David said, “…I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1).
Think about our Lord Jesus: during His ministry in the earth, He prayed on several occasions, but mostly in gratitude to the Father. When He was to raise Lazarus from the dead (someone who had been dead and buried for four days), He didn’t wail or beg; He gave thanks. He said, “…Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me” John 11:41.
In St. John’s Gospel, He had ended His ministration to a multitude that followed Him to the desert area, but didn’t want to send them home, hungry. All that was available was a little boy’s lunch: five mini loaves of bread and two fishes.
That certainly wouldn’t suffice to feed a teeming multitude of five thousand men (women and children not counted). But the Bible says, “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would” John 6:11. Notice what He did that resulted in the miracle: He gave thanks!
When was the last time you gave thanks for something you realized you needed, without having to ask God for it? That’s the life you ought to be living as a Christian.
Cultivate the lifestyle of thanksgiving. All things are yours already; therefore, when you think there’s something you require, give thanks to God for it, because you know it’s yours already.
Keep His praise in your mouth, not sometimes, but always. That’s how victors live: they don’t complain; they praise; they give thanks to the Lord. Make it your lifestyle and you’ll always find angels mobilized on your behalf. A lifestyle of gratitude will continually attract blessings and favour to you, giving you more reasons to give thanks! Hallelujah.
Study these Scriptures;
Colossians 1:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 34:1.
