The Sunday Mail
Pauline Matanda
WE are now in December. Look back, relax and enjoy the end of the year.
At the same time, look forward to the new season, believing in God.
It might not have been rosy when we started the year and some never imagined reaching this far alive.
“Tinoripedza here gore rino?” I heard several people asking.
However, the assurance is that “He who started a good thing in us is faithful to bring it to completion”.
Thus, we give thanks to the Lord.
We need to look at life from a positive perspective and thank God for every moment.
“What you give thanks to, increases,” preaches one renowned apostle.
Jesus Christ, while holding five loaves and two fish in front of more than 5 000 people to be fed, simply gave thanks and there was multiplication of the food.
At Lazarus’ grave, Christ simply said, “Lord, l thank you.”
That was His prayer.
Lord Jesus, how can you pray that way — thanking God — when Mary and Martha are crying over the death of their brother?
Do not always do the obvious; strategies need to change.
Sometimes, you need to smile and thank God when people are expecting you to be down and out.
Laugh when they are expecting you to cry. Dance when they are expecting you to sleep because of depression.
Consider one of Albert Einstein’s famous quotes that follows: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Do not do the obvious in the sight of men; give thanks and praise to God.
Christ knew giving thanks is a powerful weapon to reverse negative situations. That is why He gave thanks at Lazarus’ grave. In Luke 17, out of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus, only one came to give thanks. The Bible then says, “He was made whole”.
The others were cleansed of their leprosy but this one, who came to give thanks, was made whole.
To me, he was transformed in every aspect. I believe there was renewal of his mind.
He was made whole in the way he sees things. He was made “whole” even in the way he speaks. It was just not leprosy that was addressed. His well-being was addressed. Gratitude determines your altitude.
Develop a lifestyle of thanksgiving. Continue to give thanks for as long as you have God’s breath in you. This is God’s will for you.
Thank the Lord for shepherding you with love throughout the year.
Trust Him to continue to lead you to greener pastures now and forevermore.
Psalms 23:1-2 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green pastures; He leads me beside peaceful streams.”
May grace, mercy and peace be multiplied to you as you give thanks.
