Praise will always make things happen for us in mysterious ways. There’s no room for bitterness in a heart that is full of praise. Bitterness stalls the force of favour and growth. It is an entry point for evil and oppression. If we allow it in our lives, it would alter the sequence of good tidings we should experience. We must give no room to the devil. Giving praise to God always in spite of the situation is one very potent way to overcome the wiles of the enemy.
Jack Hayford told the story of lessons he learnt about thanksgiving from his rich aunt back in the 1940s. It was Thanksgiving Day. His aunt gathered all the children around (including himself). She asked them to write down or tell her everything they could remember that God had done for them in the past year. She promised to reward the most logical and most truthful narrative with 50cents. Back in the 1940s, that was no doubt alot of money to give a child. Giving a child 50cents in the 1940s can be equated to giving a child about N1,500 in Nigeria today. So, Jack tried very hard to remember the events of his life which showed God’s hand. His eye was on the money. He wanted to win the price money desperately. He however found out that his mind was just blank. He could not get that which he reached to his soul for. He could remember nothing! Years later, recounting this ordeal, he had even pondered on it only to find out that as a law, man’s capacity (generically speaking now) to receive in life, is dysfunctional to the proportion of that which he is desperate for at any particular time. This means that our desires to get things done hastily or in desperation stops or limits our capacity to receive or produce results.
The first law of thanksgiving is that our capacity to receive is directly proportional to our capacity to give. What we give, we get. The more you give, the more you will receive. Don’t focus on what you want and forget your duty to give. Scriptures say, “…it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Jack Hayford goes on to say that from this same experience; he discovered how blessings can be hindered or blocked. The second law he discovered can negate the effect of the first law. The second law states that our capacity to receive is dysfunctional to the degree at which we are desperate to get our needs met. Desperation cannot really get us anything. So many people today, in their state of desperate need, forget everything God has done in their lives and circles. These same people become bitter about occurrences within their space(s). Every day, we see the manifestation of bitterness in varying ways. People complain and murmur about practically every single thing. This should not be! If you check patiently and properly, you will find out that irrespective of where you are today, you have loads of reasons to be grateful to God. Why then focus on the seeming ugly times and be bitter when you have so many good things God has done for you to be grateful for.
The positive things you have experienced, if you check, are invaluable and will always outweigh the negative. Do not let your desperation overturn your blessing. The Author of life, your Maker has promised to give you an unexpected end. Why fret when you can praise? The things we complain and bicker about are really not worth the while. God is on your every case. What is the panic about? Focus on His blessings and GIVE Him praise for every single experience life has brought your way then, you will without stress, RECEIVE the answer(s) you long sought for. He who is thankful for little things shall be blessed with more. If your praise would go up, blessings will surely come down to you. You can begin to enjoy greater blessings today if you do like Jack Hayford aunt asked him to. Name everything God has done for you… the gift of the breathe of life, your physical growth, spiritual growth, your career and everything you can ever remember…. Begin to thank Him…not because you want your need(s) met, but because you want to GIVE Him limitless praise. If you would do so, that which you have desperately sought for, you will find. Be of good cheer!
“Poju Oyemade”