Wise people give thanks
AProfessor asked the students to prepare for the surprise test. The students waited anxiously for the test to begin. The Professor handed out the question paper with the text facing down, as always and asked the students to begin.
To everyone’s surprise, there where no questions, just a black dot somewhere around the bottom of the page.
The Professor then said, “I want you to write about what you see there.” The students were confused and they got started on the task.
At the end of the class, the Professor collected the papers and started reading each one of them aloud in front of all the students.
All of them without exception described the black dot, trying to explain its position on the paper.
At the end, the classroom went silent and then finally the Professor explained.
I am not going to grade you on this. I just want to give you something to think about.
No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot and the same thing happens in our lives.
Our life is a special gift of God, and we always have reasons to celebrate. And yet we focus on the dark spots in our life.
We tend to focus on the health issues, financial issues, relationship issues, disappointments in social life, etc.
The Professor continued, the dark spots are very small compared to everything we have in our lives, but they are the ones that spoil our minds. Look away from the black spots in your life. Enjoy each one of your blessings, each moment that life gives you.
We all have so many things to be grateful for. Be grateful and enjoy each moment of your life. BE HAPPY AND ENJOY LIFE. Psalm 124:1-8, “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; [2] If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us.”
Thanksgiving really comes down to one thing; how much you think your survival and progress is due to God’s mercy and kindness. If you believe your survival is due to chance or perhaps your own wisdom and efforts or works, you will not feel the need to give Him thanks. If you believe God has not been faithful to you, you will not be grateful to Him. Think of everything you’ve been through and how you have survived, think about all the favour you have enjoyed, it will be clear to you that where it not for God that had been on your side, you will not be here.
The Bible says O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercies endure for ever. So, what has God done for you? For me God is so good He took my place on the Cross. When He was done with my redemption, He said it is finished. He has redeemed me. He has saved me. He has forgiven me all my sins. He renews His compassion and mercy upon my life every day and every moment. He does not condemn me when I do wrong, He corrects me in love.
He has made me a member of His glorious family on earth and in heaven. He has put His Spirit in me. God made my body His abode. What an honour!
He has healed me and made me whole. I may be feeling pain in some part of my body but that’s temporary.
He has given me all things that pertain to life and godliness. He has made me a joint heir with Jesus. He gives me access to His throne; He hears and answers me whenever I call.
He protects and defends me. He fights my battles. He gives me victory even before the battle begins.
He placed so much potential in me just to make me valuable. I would have been worthless without my gift.
He encourages and comforts me when I feel discouraged. He gives me hope when everywhere is dark. He understands me when no one else does.
He is patient with me even when I’m not patient with myself. He plans and executes my success. He has surrounded me with relationships that keep me going. Wise People Give Thanks Fools don’t. The rich young ruler lost his life because he did not appreciate God for giving him life. Luke 12:16-21. Wise people show gratitude, fools don’t.
Thanksgiving documents the value you attach to any favour or assistance you receive and how much you appreciate the one who helped you.
1. When you appreciate God, you appreciate in value.
2. When you are grateful for a little, it opens doors for more.
3. Your thanksgiving offering is a seed that multiplies you. Your thanksgiving offering is a unique seed that provokes a continuous harvest. Psalm 67:5-6. Hannah came with a serious thanksgiving sacrifice to give thanks to God for putting an end to barrenness in her life and fulfil her vow. Look at the reward she got. 1Samuel 2:21, “And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.”
4. What you fail to appreciate you cannot keep. What you fail to value you lose. What you fail to value diminishes.
5. When you give thanks, you are made whole. Luke 17:15-19
A rich man’s son was graduating from University. For months, the son was asking his father for a new car knowing that his father had more than enough money.
When graduation day came, the young man’s father called him into his study. The father handed him a wrapped gift and congratulated the loving new about to be graduate on his achievement. Looking disappointed, the son opened the gift to find a lovely, leather bound journal, with the young man’s name embossed on the cover. He angrily raised his voice, threw down the journal and stormed out. The young man had not seen his father since graduation day. He became successful and was wealthy like his father, with a beautiful home and family. He came to realize his father was aging, and it may be time to put the past behind them. Just then, he received a message that his father had passed, and he had to return home to take care of the estate.
As the mourning son regretfully returned home, he began searching through his father’s important papers and saw that still new journal, just as he had left it. He opened it, and as he flipped through the pages, a car key dropped from the back of the journal. A dealer tag was attached to the key that read “Paid in full. Wherever this car takes you, write about it to remember it forever. Love, Dad.”
No matter what you expect, be grateful for what you are given. It may be more of a blessing than you think.
Thanksgiving is your access to the highest seat of power in the Universe: The Throne of God. This is the place where you obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need. The Bible says to gain entrance, you must come with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4). You are shut out of the place of breakthrough if you don’t know how to give thanks. No wonder the Bible says we are to give thanks always.
As you give thanks, you will obtain all the help you need. God will bless you with the kind of abundance that will make you to command attention in the world. God will prolong your life. Everything you are grateful for will multiply. Your thanksgiving offering will bring an end to every affliction in your life, in the name of Jesus. You will finish this year well, in the name of Jesus!
HAPPY SUNDAY!!