1 Thessalonians 5:18 ‘In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’
DAILY READING; Revelation 5; Nehemiah 7:5-8:12; Psalm 100
On Jan. 12, 2010, a bank manager in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and her staff were in a celebration mood. The manager, Ginette Sainfort, had just treated the bank’s employees to pumpkin soup, the traditional Haitian meal usually served to celebrate Haiti’s independence.
After the celebration, Ginette waited for her husband who was on his way to pick her up. That was when she heard the unfamiliar noise of the earthquake. Suddenly the building began to shake and then the three stories building begin to fall all around her.
Amid the mayhem, Ginette Sainfort found herself, buried under a pile of concrete, with her fingers pinned by a metal sign.
This began a painful six-days ordeal as she remained underneath the rubble of the fallen building.
However, despite her impossible situation, her strong faith in God made her to survive and eventually come out alive.
Finally, she was miraculously located and brought out by a rescue team.
She became an iconic image of the Haiti earthquake because while she was being pulled out from under the rubble, she amazed everyone by singing praises to God despite her weakened condition.
Though she eventually lost four of her fingers, that didn’t deter her joy.
Rather than see herself as a disabled person because of her missing fingers, Ginette sees herself as greatly blessed.
During a press interview, she said “I never give sadness a chance to take over my heart. I don’t have a reason to complain.’
After fully recovering her health, Ginnete resumed her job as a bank manager and at every opportunity she freely expressed her gratitude to God for His awesome deliverance.
As believers, Joy is the spiritual and emotional fuel we run on. As long as we can maintain our joy, we will certainly have the victory in every situation..
It is true we may sometimes pass through trials and temptations, but in everything we must be deliberate to give thanks to God at all times.
As you praise God, you will be raised out of every pit, but if you complain you will remain.
When Moses took the Israelites into the desert and they became entrapped by the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit, they began to complain.
Exodus 14:10-11 says, ” They said to Moses, ’Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die.”
At that moment they forgot the signs and wonders of God they had seen in Egypt. They failed to realize that the Almighty God who delivered them before could still deliver them again and again.
The truth is that complaining only complicates the matter. When you complain, God takes it personally because it shows a lack of faith in His deliverance ability. If you complain, you are calling into question His care, His character, and His competence.
Numbers 11:1 says the Israelites “complained about their hardships and when God heard it his anger was aroused.” As a result, He destroyed some of the people.
Indeed murmuring and complaining angers God.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:9-10 ‘Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.’
Seeing that complaining can be destructive, let us therefore make the conscious choice, in every trial to count it all joy and remain grateful to God. No matter how tough things may get, keep praising God in spite of the happenings.
As you praise God, He works behind the scene to give you a supernatural turnaround.
Gratitude—not grumbling, is what motivates God to work on our behalf.
Ps 50:14-15 says “Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and…in the day of trouble; I will deliver you” (AMP)
Certainly, God is able to deliver us from every tough situation. However the ability to praise God is a function of our level of faith. The more we see God’s amazing works through His Word, the more faith is ignited in us to praise Him in advance for our miracles.
Today, no matter what you may face, always resist the temptation to complain, rather always maintain your joy at all times, because indeed the joy of the Lord is your source of strength.
PRAYER
Lord, I thank You because I know that You are always at work in my life no matter how things may sometimes seem outwardly. Please grant me the grace for diligent study of Your Word so that I can have the faith to always remain joyful and believe You for my miracles in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE
To get into the next level of your life, God will always give a specific instruction. – WORDBITE 222.