Psalm 67:3,7

‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.’

 

DAILY READING –  Mark 10:32-52; 2 Samuel 24; Hosea 4:1-11a

Many of us have heard the story of Oliver Twist, as written by Charles Dickens. Though, a fictional tale, it was a true reflection of the condition of orphans in Britain in the 19th century. At that time, orphans had no one to care for them and had to beg or steal food to survive. The government put them in work houses to work under the harshest of conditions.

At this time too, a missionary evangelist named George Muller felt led by God, to build orphanages for these children, where they would be educated. Though he didn’t have much money he decided to trust God. As he shared his vision, God touched the hearts of people to begin to give to this project. In 1849 a building was completed to house 300 children. And over the next 21 years four more homes were built that housed over 2,000 children. Even Charles Dickens the writer of Oliver Twist visited George Muller, and was so impressed that he wrote an article for the newspapers in November 1857 telling about the work. However as the number of Children became larger, George Muller really had to trust God to provide for them. Through this, he learnt the power of gratitude. And in his journal he kept records of several instances of miraculous provisions, through gratitude. One morning, there was no food and no money to buy food. The children were standing, waiting for their morning meal. Müller said, “Children, you know we must be in time for school.” Then lifting up his hands, he began to thank God for providing food for them. Just then, there was a knock at the door. The owner of a nearby bakery stood there, and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.” Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left, when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it. And so miraculously the children had enough bread and milk for breakfast. Such instances of divine provision abounded in the life and ministry of George Muller. And he would end up caring for over 120,000 orphans. He also traveled to 42 countries, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and teach about the power of faith and gratitude to God.

Indeed thanksgiving has multiplication power. It brings supernatural provisions. In John 6:5-12, when Jesus fed 5,000 men, thanksgiving was what multiplied the loaves of bread. Thanksgiving ensures that nothing finishes in your hand.

The earth yields its increase to us, when we praise God.

Psalm 67:3,7 says ‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.’

By giving thanks to God, we encounter the multiplication power of praise. Gratitude is also a spiritual force that empowers us to scale great heights. As it is often said, it is your gratitude that determines your altitude in life. You cannot stop gaining altitude unless you stop expressing gratitude. And you will never drop in altitude unless you drop in gratitude. You can’t go higher than the level of your gratitude.

Gratitude is also the key to seeing God’s promises manifest in our lives.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us in everything to give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us. So thanksgiving is the will of God. And Hebrews chapter 10 tells us it is after we have done the will of God that we obtain the promise.  So it is after we have given thanks, which is the will of God, that we can obtain, what has been promised us by God. This means His promise will not be accomplished until we first do God’s will, which is to give thanks.

It is time therefore to engage God’s Presence, through praise, so as to see His promise come to pass in our lives. When you invoke divine presence, you live as a sign and wonder to your world.

You can experience a change of story, through engaging the power of gratitude. The more grateful you are the higher you rise in altitude. There is no mountain that God’s presence cannot level. There is no sea that He cannot dry up. In Psalm 114, when the children of Israel came out of Egypt, God was their sanctuary. The sea saw them and fled, Jordan was driven back, and the mountains skipped like rams. It was God’s presence that took them through the Red Sea and gave them victory over their enemies. In 2 Chronicles 20, king Jehoshaphat took the rear and allowed God to go ahead. And when God took over their battle, victory was sure.

It is true we are often faced with challenges. Every child of God carries enviable destiny that attracts opposition from the enemy. But life is not just about waiting for the storms to pass, it is about learning to soar even in the midst of the storms. It is about ruling and dominating in the midst of your enemies. And it is God’s Presence that guarantees our victory. A heart of gratitude is your fastest escape out of any tight situation.

Praise causes God to fight on your behalf. Through praise and gratitude we pass our battles over to God.

When you are grateful you wouldn’t need to fight to win the battle. God takes your place in battle, while you just watch. This is a covenant technique that guarantees cheap victory. God inhabits the praises of His people. So when you live a praiseful life, God’s presence abides with you; and when He abides with you, your life becomes a sign and a wonder.

 

 

PRAYER: Lord, help me to be always full of gratitude, so that I can carry    Your Presence always. Grant me the grace to live a lifestyle of continual praise so that I can be  a sign and wonder to my world in Jesus Name.

 

 

 

quote

The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained  victorious end for you.

 [CULLED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD]