How To Be Thankful Through It All
Thanksgiving and praising God is easy to do when everything is going well or when you received something. It is harder to be in a mood of thanksgiving when things around you do not seem to be very encouraging.
Everyone in Nigeria today is definitely feeling the crunch all around, from the increase in prices, exchange rate hikes, slow economy amongst so many uncertainties. So when our Church announced that there would be a thanksgiving service right in the middle of all these difficulties some did ask why? Let us look at the scripture and what it says about thanksgiving and praising God.
- To Enter into his gates and be in his presence – Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4). In the message version the verse says that to Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Being thankful to God is based on an attitude of praise and worship all the time. The best way to get access to God is through praising his holy name all the time. So even when things are not so great, do not murmur rather be thankful and come into his presence, converse with God and bring your concerns to him.
- Thanklessness is dangerous to yourself and to those around you. It dishonours God and leads to dependence on man rather than on God. “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened”. (Romans 1:21)
Not being thankful leads to bitterness, complaining, and a joyless life. Since thankfulness is a response to the grace of God, its opposite, bitterness with its companions, complaining and grumbling, are products of an unthankful heart. Not trusting and relying on God’s infinite wisdom leads to depression and feelings of hopelessness because we become focused on our problems rather than on the Lord.
- No matter what you go through, remember that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). No matter how grand your plans and dreams are for yourself, God can do much more. Do not be limited by your present circumstances because what God has in store for you, if you have faith, is so much more than what you can imagine. God says eyes have not seen, ears have not heard what God has in store for you – Don’t limit God. (1 Cor 2:9)
So as you start your new week remember that thankfulness and worshipping God is essential. You will enjoy the fruits of your lips, what you say is what you will get. So rather than murmur and complain about how hard things are, praise God and rely on his goodness in your life. (Proverbs 12:14). You are not the one who can make your life become more than it is today, God is the one who has the power to give you much more than you could ever imagine. Give it all to him and be thankful in the process of waiting.
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