TO GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING IS GOD'S WILL!Speaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: If you praise the Lord, even in adversities, He will be near to you. He will liberate you. His presence will descend upon your home. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit. God will strengthen you to cater to your household affairs. "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
It is quite on easy dispensation to praise and thank the Lord when everything goes on well and joyously. But even when we go through adversities and distresses we should extol the Lord!
"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."(Matthew 12:34)
But according to Luke 21:34, only when the heart is 'weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and cares of this life', all sorts of evil eruptions occur-anger, irritation, dissatisfaction! But when we heartily praise the Lord, the might God, 'who inhabits the praises of Israel' (Psalm 22:3) sends His presence into us.
When the people of Israel lay siege to Jericho, its walls were securely shut up. At that time, the Lord said to Joshua, "See I have given Jericho into your hands ….you shall march around the city …six days…But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets … when they make a long blast …when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat" When they followed the Lord's instructions implicitly, God gave Jericho into Joshua's hands (Joshua 6:1-16).
It is quite common place that we are assailed by tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword' and also loan-oriented adversities, tears-provoking situations, disease, and a host of horrible problems! But as we keep on glorifying and praising God, time and again, 'in all these things we are (can become) more than conquerors through Him who loved us' (Romans 8:36,37). Therefore…"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;" ( Philippians 4:6).
It is quite natural to reflect, as a witness, upon my own tribulations which have been multifarious in my 45 years' experience, since accepting the Lord! Just imagine what a mother would feel when after carrying a child in her womb for ten months, the babe becomes a still-born!
To add to my burden of woes, I became a forlorn mother losing my only daughter, a precious pearl of seventeen! What an inexpressible agony! I have a complete awareness of what death is! But yet… in the midst of all these horrifying situations, as the praises extolling the Lord are ever present in my tongue, He is present with me still; He is leading me from victory to victory.
Consider the countless afflictions, the apostle Paul underwent both in his life and ministry! Once Paul and Silas were imprisoned, after being severely beaten up; in prison they had their feet fastened in the stocks. 'But at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…' (Acts 16:25) Suddenly there was a great earthquake; the foundations of the prison were shaken; the doors of the prison were thrown open and the chains were broken' Paul and Silas won back their freedom miraculously.
An ordinary mineworker was also doing the Lord's ministry. One day his wife gave him five rupees and asked him to obtain some medicine from a hospital for their daughter who was ill, as quickly as possible. On his way to the hospital, with the small amount of money given by his wife - he had no cash of his own; a poor mother met him and appealed to him with tears: 'Sir, my two children had died; my third child also is about to die; I don't have even a single pie." Without knowing what to do, he gave the woman the money his wife had given him. The woman thanked him profusely and went her way. Grievously sad, the worker for God made his way into a thicket nearby and knelt down and prayed: 'Lord, only You do comprehend my situation. I came to buy medicine for my ailing child with a little money; I have given away that money to this woman so that her child should not die. I fully believe that You can save my child without medicine; heal my child; I thank and praise You for heeding my prayer!" After praising God with the fullness of his mind, her was rid of anxiety and fear in his mind! He developed an absolute faith that God would, somehow, perform a miracle! He returned home boldly. His wife met him cheerfully and reported that their child was rid of the severe fever just one hour earlier. She pointed to the child and said: 'Look, our child is playing there!' Yes, our Lord heeds prayers! He 'inhabits' our praises! As we keep on praising Him, He shatters all our shackles and bondages! He will do miracles for us!
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Psalms 34:1)
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."(Hebrews 13:15)
My dear friend, praise Him as a whole family-unit. Are you experiencing distress, grief, enormous problems, prolonged illness? Kneel down before God, all of you in the family and pray, "O Lord, we praise You in our constricted situation too. You have the might to sever our chains. You are enough for us. Praise be to You." If you extol the Lord, even in adversities, He will be near to you. He will liberate you. His presence will descend upon your home. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit. God will strengthen you to cater to your household affairs, and look after your spouse and children.
Look at Lord Jesus, Lord of the Cross. He is willing that we relish miracles from His hands, we receive our salvation from Him. We live a sanctified life and we praise the Lord in all kinds of circumstances. To make this possible, He surrendered Himself to the Cross. He came back to life, conquering death. He will make you live gloriously. Gladden Him, doing in your life, only His will.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
I praise and worship You wholeheartedly. Grant me Your grace to praise and thank you in my hard times. You have the might to sever all my chains. You are enough for me. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray.
Amen. |