Posted by Toyin John at 15:36:45 03.15.2016It is easy to give thanks and show gratitude when everything is rosy and good in our lives. How about when life shows up in very tough places and one is dealt with blows that were never expected? That is when giving thanks becomes a real work. I have discovered personally that, when we are thankful in the middle of tough situations, we become strong on the inside and challenges seem so small. It is not to be in denial but even in the midst of what you are going through, you choose to give God thanks. The Bible says in 1Thessalonians 5:18; "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (NLT)
You may say, how can I be thankful when it seems like the world around me is caving in on me? I tell you, do it anyway because being thankful makes the enemy mad, it is a weapon against him. Naturally, he expects you to complain when you are going through a difficult situation, he expects you to wallow in self-pity because he knows that, when you do just that, you attract some things to yourself like hopelessness, despair and depression just to name a few. But when you decide in your heart that, you will give thanks no matter what, Boom! you just hit the enemy where it hurts the most. Thankfulness, Gratitude, Thanksgiving, whatever you want to call it, turns on the light in the midst of a dark situation, it is an unfailing weapon in battle.
I found out that, giving thanks in the middle of a crisis is an offering that is sacrificial in nature but it is a choice that must be made because it invokes the power of God and brings His presence to bear upon your situation, that changes something in the atmosphere, that weakens the enemy and all his assaults against you. Paul and Silas were cast in the prison, on the outside it looked like they were defeated but they chose to not allow defeat on the inside, they turned their situation around by praying and singing praises to God! The result? The prison building rocked! The presence of God showed up on the scene. How did I know? The Bible says in Acts 16:26 The chains of the prisoners fell off! Not just Paul and Silas' chains alone but all the other prisoners too! Freedom came! Salvation showed up! All because two men chose to give thanks in the middle of their crisis.
I don't know what you are going through right now, you may be facing a very tough life situation and it feels like you can barely hold on any longer. I do not in anyway underestimate what you are going through but I invite you to begin to give thanks. You may say, Toyin, what will I give thanks about? The very breath in you, how about starting with that? The fact that, your mind is together and you can still function. That you have eyes to read this message.... the list goes on, start from the things we take for granted everyday.....waking up, having a shelter, right mind etc. You will see that your list will grow, you will create a climate within you that will overflow externally. It is in this type of atmosphere that God shows up! With this, I encourage you that, whatever you do from now on, keep gratitude and giving of thanks at the top of your list, remember it drives the enemy crazy. That is the last thing he expects from you so why don't you make it your MAJOR thing throughout the day.
Please be a blessing to others by sharing this message with someone else. You just don't know who may need this right now to turn their situation around. To receive life-giving messages like this in your inbox bi-monthly, subscribe here; www.toyinjohn.com/Newsletter. Please feel free to contact me, would love to read from you. Do so by clicking on the Contact button right here on my website. You are Victorious!
Be Mightily Blessed,
Toyin John.
You may say, how can I be thankful when it seems like the world around me is caving in on me? I tell you, do it anyway because being thankful makes the enemy mad, it is a weapon against him. Naturally, he expects you to complain when you are going through a difficult situation, he expects you to wallow in self-pity because he knows that, when you do just that, you attract some things to yourself like hopelessness, despair and depression just to name a few. But when you decide in your heart that, you will give thanks no matter what, Boom! you just hit the enemy where it hurts the most. Thankfulness, Gratitude, Thanksgiving, whatever you want to call it, turns on the light in the midst of a dark situation, it is an unfailing weapon in battle.
I found out that, giving thanks in the middle of a crisis is an offering that is sacrificial in nature but it is a choice that must be made because it invokes the power of God and brings His presence to bear upon your situation, that changes something in the atmosphere, that weakens the enemy and all his assaults against you. Paul and Silas were cast in the prison, on the outside it looked like they were defeated but they chose to not allow defeat on the inside, they turned their situation around by praying and singing praises to God! The result? The prison building rocked! The presence of God showed up on the scene. How did I know? The Bible says in Acts 16:26 The chains of the prisoners fell off! Not just Paul and Silas' chains alone but all the other prisoners too! Freedom came! Salvation showed up! All because two men chose to give thanks in the middle of their crisis.
I don't know what you are going through right now, you may be facing a very tough life situation and it feels like you can barely hold on any longer. I do not in anyway underestimate what you are going through but I invite you to begin to give thanks. You may say, Toyin, what will I give thanks about? The very breath in you, how about starting with that? The fact that, your mind is together and you can still function. That you have eyes to read this message.... the list goes on, start from the things we take for granted everyday.....waking up, having a shelter, right mind etc. You will see that your list will grow, you will create a climate within you that will overflow externally. It is in this type of atmosphere that God shows up! With this, I encourage you that, whatever you do from now on, keep gratitude and giving of thanks at the top of your list, remember it drives the enemy crazy. That is the last thing he expects from you so why don't you make it your MAJOR thing throughout the day.
Please be a blessing to others by sharing this message with someone else. You just don't know who may need this right now to turn their situation around. To receive life-giving messages like this in your inbox bi-monthly, subscribe here; www.toyinjohn.com/Newsletter. Please feel free to contact me, would love to read from you. Do so by clicking on the Contact button right here on my website. You are Victorious!
Be Mightily Blessed,
Toyin John.
