Sunday, December 25, 2005

~NE BITES ARTICLES~
For all to know how to bite the devil

Giving Thanks
-Strange But Effective Weapon Against Our Enemy-

Christmas is all about remembering God ‘s goodness & giving thanks to Him coming down in human form, apart from sharing to others this Good News. However, I believe many, if not most of us do not really see how powerful giving thanks is.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tell us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” Paul included the part of giving thanks because he saw the importance of it as part of God ‘s plan for us.

Personally, I think giving thanks is a very potent weapon we possess. When we say, “Thank You, Lord”, we remind our forgetful being about the realness & goodness of God. We not only recall the power of Christ working through us but also His enduring faithfulness in our lives & as a result, we can all feel assured of our future in Him.

This full assurance of our future in Him strengthens us against the devil. Whenever the devil tempts us, we can confidently tell ourselves that God holds the best future, as long as we trust Him. We can feel His presence so strongly in our lives when we give thanks. Thus, we will not waver in our faith, standing firm in our Rock & believing that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him”(Romans 8:28).

Paul says to give thanks in ALL circumstances. Even when our ministry is not growing, our life seems to be collapsing or whatever difficult situations there may be, it is still possible to give thanks. After this Christmas season of reaping our harvest, problems will bound to come. Our new believers will give problems in a way or another, big or small problems. I never really had seen a new believer with no problems at all.

In trying times, remember some of the things you can give thanks for. Give thanks that things are not more worse that what is happening. Give thanks that He is still there, carrying us through these situations. Give thanks for the time of molding & growing. Give thanks for the wonderful future that have in Him. Whatever the circumstances, you can still give thanks by simply thanking Him for the salvation that He had given to us. Give thanks too, that since He had purchased us with His own blood, He would never forsake us & He will make good His promises.

Another reason thanksgiving is important is in its ability to humble us. When we give thanks, we remember that it is “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6b). I believe this is one reason why God in the Old Testament kept emphasizing to the Israelites to never forget about the God who brought them out of Egypt & did great miraculous deeds before their eyes.

In other words, when we give thanks, we are stopping this very potent sin call pride from seeping into us. Pride eats us up, just as it caused Lucifer to fall. The devil would enjoy the sight of our hearts being so hardened by pride that we would not receive from God the Word that He has to help us grow. Therefore, giving thanks helps us to be strong in Him so that we will not fall easily.

The God in the Old Testament Israel commanded the Israelites in their most glorious days to always remember their Lord & King who had brought about these glories. Likewise, during the Christmas season, when we have a bountiful harvest, give thanks to proclaim that it is not us, but God through us.

I believe giving thanks is one thing God wants to speak to us during this Christmas season as giving thanks strengthens & encourages us against the devil ‘s attacks. I would comment that giving thanks is a weapon that is not really emphasized very strongly in our lives. Nonetheless, its power should never be underestimated.

In summary, when we seems to have nothing left to sustain us on this journey, we must remember this weapon of saying “Thank You, Jesus” as it might very well save your spiritual life.

Bite the devil with your thanks! Start by giving thanks now!

YK
Author ‘s Words:
-This article is written especially for NE so I sincerely hope you all had enjoyed this little article.
-Any comments/improvement points, kindly tag or email me. Would also appreciate any ideas for future articles (:

; northeast ROCKS!
-1:06 PM

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Yhope
Northeast.