“Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.”1 Thessalonians 5:18 ERV
In this week’s blog we are sharing on the power of giving thanks, I know that a thank you would be best suited when someone has done something pleasing for you but in every circumstance we ought to give thanks. No matter how it looks to our human eyes, give thanks. We have a creator who doesn’t sleep. Who’s watching carefully.
When the news about Lazarus reached Jesus, He spoke a word of how that moment will end and it definitely wasn’t going to be by death. More news kept coming in, Lazarus became weak to a point of him dying but still Jesus referred to that moment as a temporal sleep. “Our friend Lazarus is now sleeping, but I am going there to wake him.”John 11:11 ERV. Many didn’t seem to understand what He meant, so in verse 14 and 15 He told them straight. “So then Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad I was not there. I am happy for you because now you will believe in me. We will go to him now.”” John 11:14-15 ERV. When Jesus arrived where they had buried Lazarus, He gave thanks before He could do the unusual . “… Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me.” John 11:41 ERV. Jesus was conscious of what He said. He knew God was listening and He would do what He had believed to happen. So Jesus gave thanks because He knew God made it possible. Even thou the man had been buried and many had come from far to comfort the sisters, Jesus still gave thanks for what God had done or will do. He looked up, because His help comes from there. He wasn’t going to panic and start doubting but rather He consulted with the Father, not a single complaint but a thank you first. More than anything, Jesus’s thank you showed the kind of faith He had in God. People are crying around Him, others maybe terrified that He requested that they take Him to where they had buried Lazarus. He gets there and He looks up and thank God for hearing Him always when He prayed. I’m thinking He thought; “Yes, Lazarus had stopped breathing but thank you God for hearing me when I said he will wake up”. Maybe your health or health of a loved one is not too good, or you keep fighting but feel like you are not winning the battle, give thanks to God. He sees your tears, so give thanks. How you give thanks shows the amount of faith you have in the one who is in control of your life.
Remember when Jesus fed the 5000? The disciples thought sending those people away was the solution but Jesus said; “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”Matthew 14:16 NIV. What seemed to be little was enough for Jesus to perform a miracle, but first He had to look up again and give thanks. God our Father had heard Him like before. When Jesus said that no one has to go, heaven had to arrange something for those people. Our thanksgiving makes room for the supernatural to happen, because our focus will be on God and we are reminded of His sovereignty. Philippians 4:6 says; “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.” Thanksgiving changes our prayer, what could have been a prayer of complaining and telling God just how unfair life is, will now be a prayer of knowing and trusting the one we live for.
last week we shared on God our father and I encourage you to know more about the God we serve. The more you know about Him, the more you will realise that there’s absolutely nothing to be anxious about. You will find yourself practicing what Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:6, anxiety will not have a place in your heart. You will rise each morning with confidence that the one you render your thanksgiving to is bigger than anything. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT. We give thanks because He’s good not because it feels good or things look good. If our vision can start from the goodness of God everything else will follow. David said; “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”Psalms 23:6 NIV. It’s His goodness we have to experience.
Be a person filled with thanksgiving, let your thanksgiving to God shape your days and your life. Whatever life presents to you, let thanksgiving be the first thing it meets. Give thanks in prayer, with a song, anyway you can let God know that you are grateful. Our reference scripture says; “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV. It’s God’s will, and if it is His will then the outcome will be good. He said; “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Jeremiah 29:11 NIV. So no matter how it looks or feels give thanks, it’s God’s will for our lives. His plan will prevail.
I pray that your thanksgiving fills the courts of heaven, I pray that your days are filled with thanksgiving and that you experience our Father’s goodness. may your thanksgiving prayer bring the supernatural for you and for others. Amen.