THE POWER OF THANKSGIVING
29th May 2013
I was sitting at my desk looking at a pile of bills and wondering how I was going to pay them. I started complaining in my heart and feeling hard done by, when I looked across at a pile of photos that I have been sorting the previous day. They were of our family growing up, trips to the beach, birthday celebrations, times of fun and laughter, and suddenly I heard a voice in my heart saying, “You have nothing to be miserable about, start giving thanks for all your blessings.”
I obeyed the voice of God that was ringing within and started speaking out my thanksgiving and praise for all God’s goodness to us as a family. In the middle of my “Praise Party” the phone rang, it was my secretary on the line, “I didn’t want to disturb you yesterday on your free day, but we have received several cheques in the post and I thought you might want to know about them!” As the facts emerged, I realised that God had once again proved Himself faithful and I was able to settle my bills.
In Luke 17:11-17 Jesus met ten lepers and gave them instructions that led to their healing, however only one returned to give thanks and praise to God. Jesus was surprised that the others had failed to return, but then said to the Samaritan, “Arise go your way, your faith has made you whole.” His praise and thanksgiving upgraded his healing to wholeness!
In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul instructs the believers, “... in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Here thanksgiving is the doorway to peace.
Thanksgiving is so important because it opens up the way for us to receive the answers to our prayers, it strengthens our faith, it encourages others, and it robs the enemy of the power to discourage and depress.
So today - “Give thanks to him and praise his name, for the Lord is good and his love endures forever.” Psalm 100:4-5
by Charles Sibthorpe
