In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5
One of the things that grieve the Holyghost is the work of the flesh by a christian when he or she complains, murmurs and worry. Why? Because they lean to their own understanding, forgetting that God is to get glory; Because they lean to their own understanding forgetting to "watch"; Because they lean to their own understanding as if they are the Author and Finisher of their faith and this is why many christians when they are faced with a test or trial or circumstance, they fail to acknowledge the Lord Jesus with THANKS. Saying thanks to the Lord in times when you do not understand is one of the most self-sacrifice thing a child of God can do before the Lord.
I remember I was in a season, when I was drawn away by an appetite to give thanks. I reckoned in my heart the commandment of the Lord. Beloved, I reasoned in the Holyghost that if God said , , , whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content Philippians 4, IN OTHER WORDS: Whatsoever situation you find yourself in, be content! THIS TELL ME THAT I must acknowledge “being content” in the heart and countenance of thanksgiving without murmuring and complaining.
However, there is a deeper understanding to the ministry of GIVE THANKS IN ALL THINGS. In everything give thanks, this is for your growth in character as becometh saints, for the Lord Jesus knows why He wants you to develop this beauty and so beloved, it is needful for you to develop a habit of constantly saying unto the Lord “ThankYou Jesus.” Say ThankYou Jesus in the little things. Say ThankYou Jesus in the things you do not understand. Say ThankYou Jesus in big things. Say ThankYou Jesus in seemingly irrelevant things. Say ThankYou Jesus when things make sense. But MORE IMPORTANTLY, I must emphasize what many christians are further away from in their growth in Christ and this endtime, that is,
- saying ThankYou Jesus when things go bad,
- saying ThankYou Jesus when they come under attacks,
- saying ThankYou Jesus when they do not understand a situation or why they are going through this!
- saying ThankYou Jesus when they are suffering for His name sake.
- One evening, I was sitting on my bed, with a glass of water in my hand. I shifted and it threw away on my clothes. NOW MY FIRST REACTION (THE NATURE OF THE FLESH WOULD CONVINCE ME TO COMPLAIN, KISS MY TEETH, MURMUR OR BECOME EASILY ANGRY) However my born again nature inside of me is crying out for me to live to please Jesus, in this case, I say THANK YOU JESUS. I said Thank You Jesus. Tho the water spilled, I did not die. I did not drown. I did not hurt myself. I give God thanks. This is wisdom. This is of Christs’.
- One evening, I was in the kitchen, cutting and the knife slipped and cut my finger, a pain came instantly, my focus was NOW 100% on the cut finger and pain now, as blood came gushing, then I remembered, when MY FLESH WANTED TO CONVINCE ME TO COMPLAIN, KISS MY TEETH, MURMUR, AND BECOME VERY SORE! immediately I opened my mouth and a THANK YOU JESUS came out while in pain. I attended to heal the cut. I said Thank You Jesus. Tho the knife cut me, I did not die. Tho I did get hurt - I did not lose my hand. It could have been worst. I give God thanks. This is wisdom. This is of Christs’.
- One evening, while walking up the stairs, as I reach to the very top and have one more step to walk, I mis stepped and fell forward, it was an unpleasant fall, (NOW THE FLESH WOULD FIRST CONVINCE ME TO COMPLAIN, KISS MY TEETH, MURMUR) but immediately I pictured the devil laughing at my fall and I immediately got up with that in mind, I said a loud THANK YOU JESUS. I said Thankyou Jesus because I could have fallen backwards and down the stairs but I didn’t. I could have fallen back ways and could be a possibility where I broke my neck or foot or hand but I didn’t. I give God thanks because I wanted to give Him glory when things go wrong or unexpected and shame the devil!
Before this becomes EASY for some christians, it has to be exercised and practiced habitually and consistently, but HOW? I highly suggest beloved by the wisdom of the Lord, in little things first. PRACTICE TO SAY THANK YOU JESUS IN LITTLE MATTERS. In Little Matters that are so simple that who would ever think to say ThankYou Jesus. ALSO in Little Matters that are little and troublesome - that would ask for your first reaction of complain or murmur or vexation, WHY NOT PRACTICE SAYING THANK YOU JESUS.
Here I will share 3 examples in my life of habitually practicing to say THANK YOU JESUS that prepared me spiritually in big matters.
Beloved those are few examples of little scenarios. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT and we are commanded to GO UNTO PERFECTION. A christians who does not understand spiritual food but are babes in Christ will speak against the godly wisdom of this post. They do not understand, they desire milk as babes in Christ., but may Jesus remember in Jesus name.
Brothers and sisters in the faith of our Lord Jesus, the Lord Jesus wants us to give Him the first fruit of our lips. UNDERSTAND, that in times of THANKING GOD, you are expressing to Him that He knows best. You are expressing to Him that it could have been worse. You are humbling yourself before Him. Beloved it is the perfect will of God concerning you to give thanks in everything. The Scripture even help us to understand that even when we are to eat, we must give thanks! THAT IS HOW IMPORTANT AND PRECIOUS, GIVING THANKS IN EVERYTHING IS BEFORE THE LORD JESUS - He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks Romans 14. Finally brethren, PRACTICE THANKING THE LORD JESUS IN SMALL MATTERS THAT YOU MAY BECOME PERFECT IN SMALL AND GREAT MATTERS BOTH GOOD AND BAD, pleasing the Lord Jesus, doing the commandment and will of the Father, understanding how much it means to the LORD. IF YOU ARE PLEASED BY THE WORD OF THE LORD TO DO THIS UNTO THE LORD, growing in your spiritual life, pleasing Jesus, may God give you grace and understanding as He has given me in this manner in Jesus name.