Isaiah 54:1
Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
DAILY READING Hebrews 8; Exodus 5:1-6:27; Proverbs 1
The first settlers and founding fathers of America, were a group of pilgrims who wanted to start a new life.
In the 1500s England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and created a new church called the Church of England. Everyone in England had to belong to the church. Some group of 102 pilgrims, not wanting to adhere, preferring to practice religious freedom decided to leave England and start a settlement of their own. So the Pilgrims set sail on a ship called the Mayflower in September 1620. Their destination was new area of lands discovered by Columbus in 1492 called the New World. Here they hoped to start a new life and serve God freely without interference. Their journey was filled with uncertainty and peril. But after two months of braving the harsh elements of a vast storm-tossed sea, they arrived in Massachusetts . After a prayer service, the Pilgrims began building hasty shelters. However, they were unprepared for the harsh New England winter. As a result, half of them, about 50, died from sickness and starvation. Although their hearts were still heavy from these losses, they remained grateful and thankful to God.
The first thanksgiving was held by these pilgrims, in a show of gratitude to God for the bountiful harvest God gave them. They called together their Indian neighbours, and spent 3 days in celebration praising God. And year after year it became a tradition to set apart a particular day of praising God for His faithfulness. And God showed these pilgrims many miracles to prove He was with them. When they lost 50 members of their community but yet chose to remain grateful, God multiplied that little group into the great American nation that exists today. And ever since then, the thanksgiving event has become entrenched in the American tradition. Usually the last thursday in November was set aside for this celebration and in 1941, the American Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.
There was no way those pilgrims could have seen the greatness of the future generation, but when they gave thanks to God despite their loss, God brought amazing multiplication.
Philippians 4:6,7 exhorts us to “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God…shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
It doesn’t matter what you think you may have lost, when you thank God for what is left he will surely multiply it beyond your wildest expectation.
To feed five thousand men, Jesus had just five loaves and two fishes, but when He lifted up the little that was available in thanksgiving to God, great multiplication came.
A wise man said if you have lost anything God is the reason why you have not lost everything. So let’s thank God for what is available. When you thank God for His finger, He will unveil His arm to you. Thanksgiving is a multiplier. Do not let any situation rob you of your thanksgiving. When the one leper came back to thank Jesus, his healing was perfected.
In everything we give thanks, trusting that God is working out everything for our good.
Ephesians 5:20 says “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”.
We do not look at what is happening we look at what is written.
Stay strong in faith and never allow the happenings around you to tamper with your joy. Praise God even in the storm. If you can do the ridiculous, surely, you will see the miraculous.
Like the American pilgrims do not look at what you may have lost, rather bless God for what you still have, and as you do, He will multiply the remnant beyond your wildest imaginations. Indeed He is too faithful to fail!
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to praise you despite any situation, let nothing ever stop the continual flow of your praise from my mouth. You are forever faithful and I know that indeed all things are working out together for my good 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]