GIVE THANKS

GIVE THANKS (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Welcome to the month of October and the beginning of the last quarter of the year. How time flies and the faithfulness of God remains unchanged. All of us have reasons to be thankful. The theme for this month is GIVE THANKS. In the bible, Apostle Paul admonishes us that “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). While God detest ungrateful people, God expects Christians to give thanks in all circumstances they are confronted with. Today we remember how God has been faithful in all His covenants with Mount Zion parish on all fronts. We remember many of our brethren who were unemployed in the course of the year that are now employed. We remember many of our pregnant sisters at the beginning of the year who are now blessed with wonderful children. We remember healing, and breakthrough we have received from God. We remember the successive completion of programme of studies by many of our brethren while we are not oblivious of journey mercies and victory over seen and unseen battles of life. We also remember challenges that are still there but which God is working upon for a particular purpose. Hence we should not wait till the end of the year, as others would do, before giving thanks to God. It is in the heart of God for His children to thank Him and show gratitude for everything that happens in their lives. We are to thank God when we are full and when we are empty. We are to continuously show appreciation for the many things we normally take for granted. Our willingness to thank God should not be based on our mood, i.e. whether we are happy or not. It should not be based only on the things we receive and recognize as gifts and blessings; we should also thank God for the miracle of sleeping and waking up, for the gift of life, for the salvation of our souls and for divine health. Thank God for the ability to use every part of your body; that you can eat, drink, see, walk, speak, learn and interact with people. Thank God because no matter what you are going through, you are still better off in certain areas compared to some other people on the face of the earth. That is why the Psalmist says “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High (Psalm 92:1). All the days of our life are expected to be filled with thanksgiving to God because whatsoever you start with thanksgiving to God will always end with praise. You are a blessing all the days of your life in Jesus name.