WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL TO THE LORD FOR TODAY

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings name them one by one

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done

Count your blessings, name them one by one:

Count your blessings; see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done

The hymn above is something I go back a lot of times to. It reminds of God’s faithfulness especially when the devil is throwing different battles my way. Believe me recently I have been fighting different battles in various areas of my life. Maybe for you things have not worked out the way you expected, maybe you are still single a long time after you taught you will be married, or your own case is a case of barrenness., maybe your spouse has refused to change even after all your prayers or that child is going astray and you are wondering why, or even the fact that your prayers are not been answered despite your faithfulness to God. The hymn above usually reminds me that though I am going through a storm at the moment that God almighty has and is still faithful.

A lot of times as humans when we are going through a storm we are so angry at God and we forget to thank him for what He has done for us in the past. Personally I am learning to have a heart of thanksgiving irrespective of what battles I am fighting at the moment. The second thing I have discovered recently that makes it easy when things are not working out to thank the Lord, can best be described in the words of Heather Lindsey “Yes things aren’t working out physically but that doesn’t mean that things aren’t working out spiritually. Just because you cannot see what God is doing behind the scenes doesn’t mean that He isn’t working on your behalf”. Behind the scenes God is arranging things in your favour all we need is to stay in thanksgiving and praise. Joel Osteen said “Don’t be so focused on what you want that you take for granted what you have’’. One scriptures that readily comes to mind is Jeremiah 29 vs 11

                                 Amplified Bible

11.  For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

                                    Message Bible 
 11.  I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Expressing our emotions when we are going through  challenges is not wrong but if we sincerely look back at where God has brought us from even in that present  situation we would know that God has truly been faithful to us irrespective of the battles we are fighting. Recently I discovered that whenever you are going through any battle looking back at where God has brought you from makes it easy to have a heart of praise and Gratitude. And if you look back sincerely you will be amazed that you have so many things to be thankful to the Lord for. Today if you sincerely search your heart even in your present situation you will be amazed at all the things you have to be thankful for.
 

Personally I want to thank the Lord for the gift of life irrespective of all the devices of the devil ,I want to thank the Lord for the gift of salvation, I want to thank the Lord for the gift of family, I want  to thank the Lord for the gift of friends. Most importantly I want to thank the Lord for the gift of my Son Onimisi and all the joy he brings into our lives daily. I want to thank the Lord that He is growing in grace, I want to thank the Lord because irrespective of the battles the devil threw his way, God preserved him. I want to thank the Lord because he came into our lives as an answer to prayer after three years and seven months of marriage. Why don’t you sincerely search your heart I am sure there must be something you are thankful for even in the midst of your present challenge. God is faithful, He sees your prayers, He sees your fasting, He sees your secret tears and if He did it before he will do it again all you need is to have a heart of praise and gratitude.

Until our next post  

 I leave you with this line from a song ‘OVERCOMING EVERY STRONGHOLD IT BEGINS WITH A THANKFUL HEART’.

Reference

Heather Lindsey : Silently Mad at God.