Luke 17:12-19 [12] Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. [13] And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” [14] So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”…
Jesus telling the lepers to go and show themselves to the priests meant that they had already been cleansed, even though it had not yet manifested in the physical realm. It was on their way that they realised they had been healed. However, only one of them returned to give thanks. When he did, Jesus told him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:19), meaning his healing was made complete.
Thanksgiving perfects our miracles and creates room for more. That is why it should become a believer’s lifestyle.
James 1:17
Every good thing we see in our lives is given to us by God. There is so much that God has done for us, and all we have to do is give thanks to Him.
Why Thanksgiving is Important?
Thanksgiving is one of the many ways we can rid ourselves of complaining and murmuring.
1 Corinthians 10:1-10 [1] Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,… [10] nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
The children of Israel did not, at any time, give thanks for what God had done for them. Instead, they demanded more because they thought they were entitled. As a result of complaining and murmuring, they did not make it to the Promised Land.
Even when we desire the next level, the heart with which we come to God must be from a platform of gratitude, contentment, and fulfilment. Remember, God does not look at the action but at the intention.
May God incline our hearts to become men and women who are grateful, for gratitude sets into action the law of increase and multiplication.
The Psalmist said,
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalms 34:1
We do not need to thank God only during good times, but also during difficult times.
Romans 8:28
Are you a lover of God? If yes, then God can work what seems to be your disadvantage into a platform for your lifting.
God can take away your sackcloth and clothe you with garments of honour. He can turn your mourning into dancing, as long as you do not limit yourself to complaining. Psalm 30:11
An example is David in 2 Samuel 12. After he messed with Bathsheba, God spoke through the Prophet Nathan that the child would die. When the child became ill, David fasted and pleaded with God, but the child still died.
According to human wisdom, it may appear that the fasting did not work. However, God gave David someone greater —Solomon—whom the Bible says, “The LORD loved Solomon” (2 Samuel 12:24).
Stop limiting God or dictating to Him what He must do. Be assured that He will turn your mourning into joy.
Another example is found in 1 Samuel 30, when David went to fight the Philistines and the Amalekites took their possessions. The people wept until they had no strength left to weep.
However, the Bible says, “And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.” 1 Samuel 30:19
God did not return the burnt houses, but He provided them with materials to build better ones. You choose what to focus on.
Genesis 50:20
Joseph did not allow what his brothers did to get into his heart. He told them, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” Every evil done against you will work out for your good—it will become a platform for your miracle.
Gratitude is something we must practice, and as we do, God will make our lives easier.
Further Study
2 Samuel 6
Luke 22:19
Hebrews 13:15
Zechariah 4:10
STAY BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED, WE LOVE YOU.
PASTOR BEN OCHOLA.