A Lifestyle of Thanksgiving & Praise By Pastor Faith Oyedepo
Topic: A Lifestyle of Thanksgiving & Praise
Dear Reader,
Praise God! It is December, the month of Christmas! Without any doubt, I know that the Lord has done so much for you and in your family this year. Are you thankful to Him for all His benefits that you have enjoyed in your family? Some of them are the gift of life, forgiveness, healing, protection, provisions and so forth. This month our focus shall be on: CA lifestyle of Thanksgiving and Praise.
What is Praise?
Praise is appreciating God for His person, in other words it is appreciating and worshiping God for Who He is because of your high rating of Him. When we praise God, our focus is on Him and not ourselves. We look away from what we think we do not have to Who we have; because the One we have holds the keys to our heart desires.
What is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude especially to God. It is the grateful acknowledgement and celebration of the benefits and favour of God. The Bible says: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Thankfulness is what makes our praise genuine. If you are not thankful, you cannot be praiseful. Our attitude of gratitude will enhance our altitude. Just as a parent is pleased and motivated to want to do more when a child shows appreciation for a gift received, you are not qualified for the next blessing from God, until you give thanks for the last (Luke 17:11-19).
Also Read: Praise For Manifestation by David Ibiyeomie
When you refuse to give God thanks, you are pointing an accusing finger at Him. You may say “I don’t have any reason to be thankful to God or God has not done anything for my family this year”. There is no truth in that. For the fact that you are still breathing, you owe God thanks! Let the woman who is worrying about not being able to bear children praise God for marriage. Let him that is worrying over what to eat and drink, praise God that he even has an appetite and ability to eat. Let him that is worrying of whom to marry, praise God for being fit to marry; for a mad man or woman cannot think of marriage. Let the one worrying over what to wear praise God that he/she has body and legs to wear clothes and shoes and. “If you are thoughtful, you will indeed be thankful”
Give thanks and offer praise to God in that unseemly unpleasant situation. Remember, it was thanksgiving that brought Lazarus out of his grave (John 11:41-44). If you want to come out of that grave of poverty, barrenness, stagnation, sickness, lack and want, fill your heart and mouth with praises. The Bible says: Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places (Habakkuk 3:17-19). You will never find a thanks giver where you left him.
Spend quality time in thanksgiving and praise in place of murmuring. The Bible says: Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer (1 Corinthians 10:10). You shall not be destroyed in Jesus’ name! Murmuring put God off your case, stop it! If God is all you need, you must stop murmuring and always find reasons to praise Him, even when you seem to have no reason to do so. But remember, that the life you have now belongs to Him. The Word of God says: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord (Psalm 150:6). It is a commandment from God to praise Him. Maybe you have a need bothering your mind and you desire God’s intervention before the end of the year, what do you do? Praise God for it, the Bible says after you have praised, the earth will yield her increase; and God will bless you (Psalm 67:5-7) I see unprecedented blessings coming your way this season as you engage the force of praise and thanksgiving!
Your thanksgiving and praise will only be acceptable to God after you are born again. If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom. Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
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Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
