Little children, keep thanking God. That is my word for you today. There is just something about gratitude.
The week might have begun smooth or rough for you, depending on what happened to you.
For some people, you wish you could change the hand of time and begin the week on afresh.
There is something quite a number of us do not do, which ought not to be so.
Listen to what the bible says;
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
God’s will is that you give thanks. How best can it be explained?
Regardless of how your week started, how your day went, or how the last month was, God is saying you should cultivate a habit of thanksgiving.
See how another version puts it.
Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do. – 1 Thess 5:18{CEV}
Have you taken a moment to wonder what would have happened if Jesus Christ did not come?
Thank God for your parents. Thank Him that you have life. Thank Him for the school you are attending. Thank Him for your country. Some nations are at war as we speak. Children like you cannot go about their normal lives or play as kids should.
This week, just like the scripture admonishes; whatever happens, keep thanking God.
Don’t murmur. Don’t complain. Just be full of gratitude.
Tomorrow, I will show us a few benefits of being full of gratitude.
Futility of A Life Without God was taught by Rev. Dunamis Okunowo on the 6th of March 2022 at Shouts of Grace Center, Joke Plaza, Beside Trans Amusement Park, Bodija-UI Road, Ibadan.
In his teaching, Rev. Dunamis made mention of the following important points:
A lot of people, in their pursuit of happiness, exclude God. That’s futility! King Solomon studied life, experimenting with his own life, and gave us some conclusions. It is wisdom to apply the researches of this man, instead of going through the same route and messing up your life.
He experimented with wine (Eccl 2:3) and found out that wine is a mocker (Prov. 20:1, 23:29-30). Wine may offer you temporary relief, but begins to mock you afterwards.
Women are deep, and should be respected. King Solomon experimented with women, and found out that a woman can be a bitter pill to swallow (Eccl 7:26, MSG). In essence, he was saying, “Don’t mess with women!” Happiness cannot be found by sleeping around – you may have an orgasmic feeling afterwards, but after two hours, you will be back to your misery.
The pursuit of money cannot bring you the joy and satisfaction you desire. You’re mistaken if you believe that; listen to King Solomon:
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this [is] also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good [is there] to the owners thereof, saving the beholding [of them] with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man [is] sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is a sore evil [which] I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. Ecclesiastes 5:10-13 (KJV)
God wants you to have money, and not for money to have you.
He experimented with possessions (Eccl 2:4-6, 10), and found all these things were vanities (Eccl 1:2) – futility!
In all the experiments King Solomon carried out, he concluded that chasing all of these things were vanity and vexation of the spirit… and that only the fear of God and His pursuit is worth striving for:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)
Prioritize God in your life.
Serve God with your life, devotional life (don’t be too busy to fellowship with God – in prayers and in studying the Bible) Serve God with your time (find a service area and fill it) Serve God with your money Serve God with your heart/emotions Honour God with your words
God has made up His mind to bless you; He only needs you to cooperate.
To listen to messages of Rev Dunamis, go HERE or HERE
A couple of years back, a certain lady called me. Let’s call her Sister Sube.
She started by telling me how bitter she is against God, that God has refused to answer all her prayers. She said despite constant vigils, fasting, and prayers, God has turned a deaf ear to her. She told me how she was on the brink of giving up.
Sister Sube went further to tell me that she has been crying for days and that she is thinking of forgetting God and moving on. She told me that no serious man has approached her in the last few months.
Then she dropped the bomb!
She said, “Even this man that I am living in his house has refused to propose!”
“Living in his house?” I asked.
“Yes now, I thought if I move into his house, it will make things fast, but right now, he has only been sleeping with me.”
Then she concluded, “Pastor, I am tired.” I pray a lot, no answer. I am even just coming from a vigil right now.”
As ridiculous as this may sound, I am telling you a true story. And I am also sure there are many people who might have found themselves in this kind of predicament.
The reality is that you cannot violate a part of the scripture and then expect His promises to work for you.
Yes, some things happen by acts of mercy, but you get to a certain point, God commands everyone to repent.
That lady above is trying to mock God. Sadly, God cannot be mocked. Such a person ends up deceiving himself or herself.
There is no point attending vigils and going to the mountain every Friday and then continuing in sin. It is just a waste of time.
Let me give you some tips that can help.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. – Romans 14:17 (KJV)
You cannot gallivant your way to heaven. It requires a certain level of seriousness and discipline with your spiritual life. It requires some inconvenience.
There is always a price to pay. It is not in meat and drink alone. It is not in tripping her, taking her to cinemas alone, and buying her gifts.
Meat and drinks, fun, and frolicking around are never the passwords into God’s kingdom.
It is in righteousness which is right living. You cannot cheat your way into the Kingdom. You are either for Him or against Him.
May God grant you more understanding!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I refuse to mock God in any way
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to live with your fear in mind
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. – Romans 14:17 (KJV)
Rejoice Again And Again In Your Marriage. The Bible says husbands should enjoy the wife of their youth. This means you both should enjoy yourselves while you have the strength as a young couple. Don’t be too serious at home and learn to live together as best friends.
The force of joy is very vital on the home front. Joy, celebration, thanksgiving, rejoicing, the sound of melody, praises, and worship to God all go hand in hand.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. – Psa 67:5-6
We are encouraged in this scripture to praise the Lord, then our earth, whatever it is the represents earth will yield her increase. Whether barrenness, lack, joblessness, debt etc
The logical thing to do is get moody when things are not working. But we operate from a higher level. We rejoice to get the increase. Your boss, spouse or colleague may be treated you bad. You don’t fight back you switch into praise.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
Receive Grace and strength to enter into praise. God inhabit your praise. Your praise invite God to fight on your behalf.
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. – Php 4:4
Let nothing steal your joy. Let your rejoicing be in the Lord
Don’t allow the pressure of finances, raising children, in- laws and others destabilize your togetherness and joy. Nothing must come in between your joy. Between the two of you, one person will be more playful and tend towards being joyful all the time
Let the playful one take the initiative and the other follow suit.
The Holy Spirit knows what He’s saying when He says enjoy the wife of your youth. Be deliberate in making each other happy. Do not make others outside your home or marriage happy at the expense of your spouse.
Read books together and discuss them. Invest in each other.
I pray your marriage will be beautiful and filled with new wine.
God bless your marriage
CONFESSION OF THE DAY I love my spouse and we enjoy life together
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord help us to be joyful always.
THOUGHTS OF THE DAY Ecc 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Rejoice and enjoy yourself
Be grateful always, little children. But what’s with saying, “Thank you?” Why all the fuss?
Saying “thank you” is much more than speaking the words. It should come from deep within you. It is a sign that you truly appreciate what was done for you.
Being grateful is sweet because it tells the person doing you the favour that the help they rendered to you was indeed needed by you. No one wants to receive what they don’t need. So also, no one wants to give help or do favours that are not needed.
Again, your show of gratitude tells the person that their time wasn’t wasted on you. If you refuse to say or show your gratitude, you are saying to them that they just wasted their time and resources on you. That you don’t need it. Or even value it.
That’s very unfair and could mar your chances of ever receiving from them again.
Today and onwards, learn to show your gratitude with your words and actions. Let these two things tell people you are an appreciative person.
