THE POWER OF THANKSGIVING

Every time I see another breaking of the day, I say Thank You, LORD!

Of a truth, this man recognizes that it is not by power nor by might, but by the grace of His Spirit, because as yet another song goes: many are dying, many are perishing, (but) whatever I am now, it is by your grace.

Without necessarily stating the obvious, evil days are here! What with the numerous ritual killings, inexplicable deaths, innumerable armed robbery attacks, accidents, natural and man-made disasters, as well as economic crises that have bedeviled hitherto buoyant economies of the world! There are extant wars in Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria and Georgia, to mention but these; pirates and armed gangs have taken over the coasts of Somalia and the Niger Delta; earthquakes have devastated China, killing tens of thousands, while monsoon and typhoon winds have almost decimated Burma and parts of South-East Asia. The list goes on and on.

Nevertheless, the fact that you are reading this now simply means you have not been consumed by these ravaging tempests from the pit of hell:

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone…. Psalm 91: 5-13

Is there any doubt now why you are still alive? Why, in spite of the hundreds of thousands that have perished, you are still standing? It is nothing but the LORD Who has given His angels the express charge to keep you in all your ways; they even bear you in their hands lest you dash your foot against a stone. Praise the LORD! It therefore means that it is because of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not (Lam. 3:22). And if we have this understanding, it goes without saying that there is need to be grateful; to thank this good God for His goodness…and for His wonderful works in our lives.

Of a truth, God has been good to us in this Center, whether as individuals, groups or even as a ministry. For instance, this time last year, our Ministry was still weighed down and work severely hampered because of the facility we took in furtherance of His Work. The situation was almost becoming embarrassing, when God stepped in. And today, while economies of the world are going into recession; while big multi-national conglomerates are going bankrupt; while the value of stocks are falling with reckless abandon, we have waded out of the murky waters of debt, as God in His mercy, has settled the bills, and broken once and for all, the debilitating shackles of debt. No wonder, we are now liberated to expand the frontiers of His Work, more than ever before.

Gratitude! Nothing touches the heart of God like a grateful heart. And if you are grateful, even for those things you consider small or infinitesimal, God will surely do much more.

For instance, the story is told where Jesus healed Ten men of leprosy, but only one came back to appreciate Him and Jesus’ comment in this regard is quite instructive:

…were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Luke 17:17-19

Thy faith has made thee whole! Until this Leper came back to thank the LORD, his healing was not complete; he was not whole. But the moment he showed his gratitude, Jesus commanded him to Arise…and be whole! Unfortunately, the fate of the other nine who refused to return and give glory to God, is better imagined: they were never made whole; nor was their healing permanent! 

Gratitude! This is a virtue couched or predicated on humility. When you recognize that it is not by your power; that someone other than yourself made that experience possible, it is expedient that you show gratitude. No wonder the Leper returned to give God the glory, because when you fail to be grateful, you are invariably denying God of His glory! In other words, you ascribe God’s glory to yourself; the same glory He has oftentimes declared He will share with no one else. Therefore, when you refuse to show gratitude, that is arrogance…and of course, God resists the proud!

Do you therefore think God has done something for you? Well, maybe your bank account is not overflowing with Naira and hard currency; or is it that your most pressing need has not been met; that you have failed to meet that target you set for yourself at the beginning of the year? That still does not stop you from being grateful, after all, like our opening song says: Every time I see another breaking of the day…I say thank you! So if nothing else, you have seen another day; you are alive! That is more than enough reason to be grateful. And if you thank this good God for life, you can be rest assured, He will give you cause to rejoice why you are alive…because that is the Power of Gratitude! Exploit this inexhaustible power today and watch your dreams come true!