Give Thanks

This Christmas season I have been made keenly aware of the desire to give thanks. And it’s not only from me. In our last meeting we took the opportunity to share what the Lord has done for us in this year, each and everyone, and to give Him thanks. Over the Christmas holidays I also received good news over and over again from many brothers and sisters.  I wish you could see their faces when they tell of their testimonies, they so exude with joy and gratitude you know they have been talking about supernatural encounters. All of us know that what we give thanks for are not possible apart from God’s intervention. These are just some of the reasons for our thanksgiving:

Unexpected salary increment and bonus exactly as desired
Business income doubled compared to the previous year
Healing from pain after taking Holy Communion
No need to take medical leave from work for a long time
A sister gave thanks for her son’s speedy recovery after operation: his body was able to function after one month in ways the doctor said need three months
Assurance of salvation that brings about confidence to face life’s challenges
Phenomenal sales result: a brother not long into his job managed to clinch second spot in Perak state for sales result in his organization (a bank)
Unspeakable joy in knowing the Lord and His Word better
Excellent examination results

I especially love the way a young brother asserted that he scored straight A’s in his exam because of the Lord’s help. He spoke in a no-nonsense matter-of-fact tone he was so sure it’s the Lord! I pray all of us have that kind of spirit. Hearing these testimonies (and many more not listed), we can have no doubt that Jesus is alive and intimately involved in His people’s lives. This is our God, who is ever concerned about our welfare, who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His people. He comes that we may have life, Much More Life! O Lord, we give you thanks!

As we close the year with thanksgiving, let’s start the New Year with hope of even better things to come. Expect great things from God. Be sure that what the Lord has done for us He can do again and even more.  When came face to face with giant Goliath, David said the LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (1 Sam 17:37, NKJV). We know what happened to Goliath. Be very encouraged by David’s example and live out this principle.

Happy New Year 2011.

Photo Credit: Salvatore Vuono on FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Scripture Reference Link: BibleGateway.com