“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” – 1Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
LIGHT FOR NOW: Gratitude is what we owe God for everything and in everything.
Gratitude is what we owe God for everything and in everything. It is important to note that, as seen in our text above, thanksgiving is done in the midst of problems. We don’t thank God for; we thank God in. Why the word “in”? This word is used because we are coming out of our trials, tribulations, and pains, and many believe consider be done occasionally.
This means that they believe that God must bless them with a significant material blessing they have been praying for before they can thank God. Until something great happens before they can come out boldly to say God “thank you”. It is of utmost importance for every believer to know that we don’t thank God occasionally because Thanksgiving is one of the fabrics or the nature of the newborn man in Christ Jesus. So it is found in the nature of every believer. Joy is the fruit of salvation, so it is not borne out of excitement or temporal relief. Rather, it is inbuilt. It is within the recreated human spirit.
If this is true, which we know it is, we should not be found complaining or grumbling when thanking God. Every time a believer complains or grumbles, it clearly indicates that he or she is still living in doubt; unbelief. Philippians 2:14-15 “Do all things without murmurings and disputing: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverted nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world”. So, all things should be done without complaining and grumbling because whenever you do these, it means that you are not shining the light. Believer should not be found finding faults. They should not even look back at what they claim God has not done. Most times believer look deeper into what God has not done till they forget to appreciate God for what has already been made available unto us by God. 1Corinthians 10:10 “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer”.
Paul, in his advice, admonishes believers not to complain. This is not optional. Rather, they are instructions and commands that will help us grow spiritually. Believers should not be found struggling to give thanks because that is our realm. In verse 6 of Philippians 4, it says “Do not be anxious or worried about anything but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving continue to make your specific request known to God”. So, if the Bible says this, why are you complaining? Nothing is actually going to change until you change. Hence, change your approach towards tackling issues. Whenever believers are faced with challenges that appear tough, they should be able to look at the problem and commonize it. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Stop complaining and start being grateful.
CONFESSION: Lord, I thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed upon me; the ones that I see and the ones that I do not see in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
QUOTE: A thankful believer is a victorious believer.
DAILY READING: MORNING: HEBREWS CHAPTER 6; EVENING: HEBREWS CHAPTER 7
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 