So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? – Luke 17:14-18
REFERENCE
Luke 17:11-19
The staggering ratio of the thankful to the unthankful in this story calls for deep reflection and largely inspired today’s devotional. It beat Jesus that thanksgiving was found only in the mouth of a foreigner; hence, His question: “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” This question proves that there are usually more people on prayer lines than there are on thanksgiving lines. God knows what He does daily, but He hears very little about it. We give Him less credit than He deserves.
It is sad that God still asks this same question today. He took note of the fact that the nine thought little of what was done. They must have fallen victims of forgetfulness. They forgot how desperate things were before the turnaround. They must have ticked ‘healing’ off their lists and moved on to the next item.
Humans have a natural bent to quickly forget God’s blessings because we are driven by needs. When one is met, we seek another. The woman who just marries forgets to thank God because she is on the prayer line for babies; the pregnant woman forgets to thank God because she is now praying for safe delivery. The person with the nice job forgets that he is one in a thousand and is praying for promotion; the person with the car has forgotten how he used to trek and now wants an SUV…and the list goes on! Oh, how quick we are to forget…and this hurts God.
We are quick to see what is lacking, missing, unfinished, undone, etc., but we forget to see what we have, what is done, and what is left. Imagine how you would have craved for the things you have now if you didn’t have them? So, rather than get depressed and complain about the things that didn’t happen for you in the first half of the year, thank God for what you have, no matter how minute it seems. Quality thanksgiving is not a function of how much God has done for you, blessed you with or delivered you from; it is a function of how good you are at remembering.
I sense in my heart that this second half of the year will usher in for you and your house, ‘laughter, comfort and satisfaction’ by the Spirit of the Lord. You may have toiled and toiled in the first half, you may feel like the ‘opposition’ has an upper hand so far, but God will arise for you in this second half and make the glory of the latter to be greater and better than your former, in Jesus name – Amen! Switch on thanksgiving, because it is a ‘faith key’ that unlocks the door to miracles. The leper that came to thank God was the only one Jesus told, “Your faith has made you WELL!”
Don’t be like the ungrateful and forgetful nine lepers; be like the ONE that returned with thanksgiving!
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY
Psalm 107:1-3, Isaiah 12:1-5 & Job 8:7
TO DO
+ Take time out and consciously write out the things God has done thus far in your life, and thank Him affectionately for them.
+ Declare by faith, that this last part of the year will be better for you than the beginning; that you will supernaturally accomplish using God’s strategies the things that were unsurmountable in the past months.
Lord Jesus Christ. You have done so much for me that I can’t count. Help me to accomplish my heart desires this remaining part of the year. Amen
Today, I receive grace to actively count my blessings and name them one by one, to number my days and most importantly, give God thanks, honour, and praise for all He has done. Thank you Jesus!!! Hallelujah.
Interesting; the Samaritans.
There is something about that breed of people.
Belief and action is everything.
#believe #thesamaritans #gratitude
As I wait in faith for the Lord, may I not loose sight for all He has done but be joyful always, giving Him thanks for all He has done and all He will do! Amen #Gratitude
I am thankful for all your mighty works upon my life and that of my family. Lord you have done exceedingly well. Sai dei Kalman godiya.
Am thankful and grateful to the almighty God for all he has done for me and my family. May his wonderful name be blessed. I will ever remain gratuitous. I believe with FAITH that this second half of the year will be better in Jesus name amen. Blessed month brethren.
Wonderful piece.
Dear LORD, I receive grace to continually think about and remember the things you have done. While trusting YOU for a better second half of 2018, I refuse to be ungrateful.
So help me GOD. Amen!
Father,clothe me with the garment of Praise and Thanksgiving.
I refuse to be forgetful of the benefits you daily load me with. I thank you for all Lord. This heart is a grateful and praising one.
Lord I thank you for everything you have done; even for those yet unseen. I remain in awe of your faithfulness and mercy. All the glory belongs to you Lord! Amen!
God shows kindness to us all the time. I need to consciously talk about those. Broadcasting the negative all the time is misrepresenting the kind God we say we serve. He deserves our praise and testimonies!!!
Lord God thank you for all you have done and has been doing for me, let the rest of this year fill my mouth with Thanksgiving for you . God bless pastor wale God bless ILCC
Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness in my life; I will not stop being grateful to You.
Thank You also because this second half for me will be better than the first half of the year. I receive the comfort and satisfaction that comes from You alone. Amen!