God, Thanksgiving and Security
I will narrate a personal testimony in this write up to support the indisputable fact that God is the provider of flawless security. Back home in Nigeria, I worked and lived in a town located within the potentially prosperous but appallingly neglected and poverty stricken oil producing region (the Niger Delta). The town was infested with all shades of criminals including armed robbers and at a time, almost all the people that I know there had been robbed and all of them had terrible stories to tell. We were not spared. At about 1.30am one day, a gang of about ten (10) fierce looking, marijuana smoking, noisy and fully armed robbers invaded our residence and from the outset, it was clear that they came to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Initially, they tried all they could to gain entrance into our house by force but they failed in their bid nevertheless, they persisted. Then in a split second, I remembered Jesus Christ and some of his earth shaken miracles especially the ones that he performed after giving thanks to God. For example, I remembered that he gave thanks to God before raising Lazarus up from the tomb (John 11:1-44) and before feeding four thousand people with seven loaves and fish (Mathew 15:32-39).
Armed with above accounts, my wife and I joined our hands together and we gave thanks to God before asking him to rescue us. Our prayer was short and it went thus: ‘’Father we thank you because each time we call on you, you answer us. Today, save us from the cruel hands of these armed robbers and let their invasion end right now in Jesus name. Amen’’. Then we sat down on our bed and waited patiently for God to act. In next to no time, one of the robbers told his comrades in a subdued but determined voice that he was no longer interested in the robbery operation because according to him, we were up to something sinister and that a palpably frightening power which he wasn’t ready to confront, was backing us. Some other members of the gang also supported him and before we knew what was happening, all of them fled from our compound in disarray thus confirming Deuteronomy 28:7 which says: “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. With thanks, we trusted God for our security and he did not disappoint us. To him be all glory, honour and adoration in Jesus name. Amen.
Related development
At the moment, our world is full of insecurity as demonstrated by gangsterism, terrorism, wars, natural disasters, economic crunch, worrisome health alerts etc. Nobody is sure of anything anymore and governments all over the world are doing everything possible to put things right all to no avail. What then should we do as children of God? I believe this is the most auspicious time for us to turn our attention to God more than ever before since it is apparent that no human intervention can bail us out successfully. We should sincerely pray to him to stretch his infallible security to cover our lives and the lives of our loved ones, our health, properties, jobs; ministries, businesses, savings, mortgages, pensions etc prevailing global situations notwithstanding and he will. Remember that his security apparatus towers well above ours and the Psalmist attested to this fact in Psalm 127:1 where he said: ’’Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain’’.
We relied on God’s sound security in time of grave danger to our lives and properties and he did not disappoint us. He will not disappoint you too in Jesus name. However, the attitude of thanksgiving as espoused by Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6 is very essential in this business. In the passage, he said: ‘’Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;’’. As from today; make it a routine to give quality thanks to God before presenting your requests to him. He will definitely surprise you at some point in Jesus name. Amen.
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: God, Security, Thanksgiving
Let’s Thank God
Today we shall be focusing on thanksgiving. By definition, thanksgiving is the art of expressing gratitude to God. It is a vital prerequisite for a successful Christian life and God expects it from us in all ways and at all times. Apostle Paul confirmed this in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 when he said ‘’…In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’’.
King David was successful in Israel because of his unflinching love for God and because he was always thanking him. He did not do so for fun. Remember that it was God who helped him to defeat Goliath. God also delivered him from the evil antics of King Saul and made him king over Israel even though his credentials were very lean for that exalted position. Remember that David was just an ordinary shepherd boy before God chose him over and above his outstanding brothers. I am therefore not surprised that he said ‘’it is good to give thanks to God (Psalm 92:1), to who alone does wonders (Psalm 136:4).
If you endeavour to peruse your earthly journey to date, you will discover many reasons why you should thank God. For instance, he is the one who delivered you and your loved ones from death and from the attacks of Satan via accident(s), sicknesses and infirmities, failure, shame and sorrow etc. He even promised you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11-NIV). Is he not wonderful? Definitely he deserves our thanks.
Thanking God especially with joy and praise will confer the following privileges on you:
1. Ability to gain access into His presence. King David confirmed this in Psalm 95:2 when he said ‘’let us come before Him with thanksgiving’’. He also said ‘’enter into His gates with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4). From these two passages, it is evident that we can easily gain access into God’s presence via a protocol that prominently features thanksgiving. Friend, if you are serious about having an encounter with God then make sure that you give thanks to Him continually as from today.
2. Ability to present your request to him. Apostle Paul confirmed this in Philippians 4:6 when he said: ‘’be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God’’. We can safely conclude from above passage that Prayer + Supplication + Thanksgiving = Answered Prayer. If you pray and supplicate before God eternally but you fail to thank Him, you will find it very hard to present your requests before Him and you cannot get them sorted out. Thanksgiving therefore is very essential whilst dealing with God.
3. Ability to experience signs and wonders. Thanksgiving is the key that unlocks locked doors. It also unlocks the door to the throne of God where big time signs and wonders occur. In Matthew 15:36, Jesus gave thanks to God over a few loaves of bread and some fishes and they multiplied greatly to feed thousands of men minus women and children. Thanksgiving therefore, leads to multiplication and satisfaction (Jeremiah 30:19) whilst lack of it leads to decrease and frustration. Jesus also thanked God before raising Lazarus form the dead (John 11:41). That is, thanksgiving brings about restoration.
Friend, I presume you will agree with me that it is beneficial to thank God. Therefore, why don’t you devote sufficient time to thank Him on a daily basis and watch the issues troubling you disappear one after the other? If you are liberal with thanking God then, He will locate you for signs and wonders in Jesus name. Amen.
Finally, remember that those who are full of thanks to God will have their tanks full of His blessings.
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: Thanksgiving