1 Thessalonians 5:18: ‘In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’
DAILY READING: Matthew 20:1-16; Numbers 13-14; Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
In 1987, the story of Terry Waite dominated global newspaper headlines. While working as a hostage negotiator for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Waite travelled to Lebanon to negotiate the release of hostages there. However, while in Beirut, Waite himself was suddenly taken captive by the terrorists he had gone to negotiate with. He would spend almost five years in captivity, four of which were in solitary confinement.
During his incarceration, he was blindfolded, beaten, and subjected to mock executions. He lived much of the time chained to a wall in a room without natural light.
Through long, lonely days and nights, he was unsure that his life would be spared. Nevertheless, every morning he offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God for His manifold mercies so abundantly bestowed upon him. Despite the situation, he chose to give God thanks in all things. And miraculously, God preserved his life and he was finally released in 1991. Reflecting on his time in captivity, Waite told the media that his faith in God gave him the strength to persevere during this terrible ordeal.
Today, Terry Waite is the co-founder of Hostage UK, an organization that provides support to those taken hostage and their families. And he has captured his story in a book titled, ‘Taken on Trust’.
In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas were held in prison, and instead of murmuring and complaining they chose to give thanks to God. And as they praised, God came down and delivered them from their captivity.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, ‘In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’
We have to learn to be thankful to God in every situation. The truth is that tests and trials come to everyone. In Mathew 5:11-12 Jesus said, ‘Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.’
Here Jesus is asking us to ‘rejoice and be exceeding glad’ even in the face of trials. Despite the circumstances of life, we are to rejoice in God. We are to delight ourselves in God and His Word and not fret over situations. We are to rejoice in God’s goodness, mercy, and abounding grace. The truth is that harvest is not in view until our praises rise up to God. Indeed, it takes high praises to access our high places. And until we decide to give God His place, we are not qualified for our place.
Habakkuk 3:17–18 encourages us to rejoice despite how bleak things may sometimes look. Our attitude of gratitude will enhance our altitude. Indeed, if we are thoughtful, we will be thankful. No matter what you may be confronted with today, for the fact that you are still breathing, you owe God thanks. Someone may be worried about the things not yet accomplished as this year comes to an end. Perhaps you are worried about your finances, getting married, having children, education, business, career, etc, but then, it is only because you are alive and have sound mental health that you can even think about those things.
We should align our priorities properly. Therefore instead of worrying or complaining, we should be thankful to God who has preserved us all year long and given us abundant life.
Ecclesiastes 9:4 says, ‘For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.’
Indeed, as long as you are in the game of life there is hope for you, and this is why we should remain praise-full. Psalm 150:6 says, ‘Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD.’
We are commanded to give God praise as long as we have breath, because even the life that we have belongs to Him. Giving thanks to God is the way to our miracles. Thanksgiving will bring any man out of the grave of poverty, barrenness, stagnation, sickness, lack and want. It was thanksgiving that brought Lazarus out of his grave. In John 11:41-44, when Jesus gave thanks to God for hearing Him, God caused Lazarus to come out of the grave. And today as we engage the sickle of praise, whatever things may seem dead in your health, business or career are suddenly jerking back to life. As you begin to praise, every area of dryness will suddenly burst forth into fruitfulness. Indeed, as we align with God’s will by giving Him thanks at all times, then the earth will yield her increase to us and God will bless us. (Psalm 67:5-7)
PRAYER: Lord, I am indeed grateful and thankful for all the amazing things You have done in my life this year and in previous years. Thank You, precious Lord, for Your continual faithfulness to me, in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE
It is only when you can see God in the light of who He truly is that you can begin to walk in the overflow of His blessings. – WORDBITE 222