1 Thessalonians 5:18
‘In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
DAILY READING – – John 9:24-41; 2 Chronicles 7; Malachi 4
On May 12, 2008, an enormously devastating earthquake hit the mountainous region of Sichuan province in China. This earthquake was the 21st deadliest earthquake of all times, and it was the worst natural disaster in China in a generation. One of the things affected by this earth quake was a wedding day photo-session taking place in Bailu, Sichuan China.
On the fateful day, happy couples had gathered at The Church of the Annunciation in Sichuan China. The church which was over 100 years old, and sat on a hilltop, was a favorite location for wedding couples. After the wedding ceremony, the newly wedded couples, were taking pictures when suddenly the ground started shaking. Then stones started falling from the church building. Realizing it was an earthquake people started shouting, ‘run, run’, The ground shook as they ran and they couldn’t see anything amidst the dust and debris.
In the midst of the confusion, as everyone ran for their lives, there were no more thought about order or decorum, there was no regard for the costly wedding attires, the expensive decorations or the VIP’s present. At that point what mattered most was survival, what was uppermost on each person’s mind was staying alive. And miraculously when the dust had settled, though their dresses were in tatters and they were covered in dust, everyone stood up and realised they were safe. They were all so grateful to God for preserving their lives.
Later on, one of the grooms, posted a picture on his blog, calling it ‘Survivors of the Storm.’
Indeed it is funny, how too often we get caught up in our little problems and lose sight of the big picture. Sometimes, we worry about what to wear, eat, drink and so many other things. But instead of worrying, we ought to look up and be grateful to God for the big things first. The fact that we are alive and the world around us is still intact.
Have you ever seen the picture of a city shortly after it was hit by an earthquake? It is littered with all manner of debris. You find pieces of documents, phones, destroyed gadgets, pieces of jewelry, expensive clothes, etc. However, just a few moments before, those things were very precious and personal to people who owned them, but now those things lie broken and battered, littering the streets. Sadly, some owners of those things never lived to tell the story.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “In everything give thanks.” Notice it doesn’t say to give thanks “for” everything, rather it says “in” everything. In other words, we should have the attitude that no matter what is happening, we choose to be grateful. We are to continuously thank God, for the many things we normally take for granted.
No matter the ‘big concerns’ that face us daily, let us learn first to be grateful for what matters most. Let us appreciate God for the gift of life. Let us thank Him for the things He has done already. We should thank God for the miracle of sleeping and waking up, for the salvation of our souls and for divine health. You should thank God for the ability to use every part of your body; that you can eat, drink, see, walk, speak, learn and interact with people. Thank God because no matter what you went through, you did not lose your mind. You are still better off in certain areas compared to some other people on the face of the earth. The bible says to him who is joined to the living there is hope and a living dog is better than a dead lion. That you are still here and still alive is indeed enough reason to continuously bless God.
Having an attitude of thanksgiving all depends on what you choose to focus on. You can either focus on your problems, or you can focus on your blessings.
Let us make it a habit to thank God in all things. Let us learn to exalt Him above our circumstances. Giving God thanks always provokes Him to do more for us. In 2 Chronicles 1:6, when Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings, God gave him a blank cheque to ask for what he wanted. In Luke 17:15-16, when the leper fell down and glorified God with a loud voice for his healing, Jesus made him completely whole. In 2 Samuel 6:14 when David praised God in singing and dancing, God established his throne forever. And today, as you begin to give thanks to The Lord for His many blessings in your life, He will go beyond your expectations and do exceedingly abundantly above all you could ever ask or imagine.
PRAYER: Lord, I am truly grateful for Your faithfulness in my life. You are the reason why I am alive today. Please help me to always praise You in every situation, because indeed You are good and Your mercies endure forever in Jesus Name. .
QUOTE
Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE