The Power of Thanksgiving

God lives and works today. Perhaps you know this and are amazed to see what he does in the lives of other people, but you yourself don't experience his power. Perhaps you even pray, Lord, help me, but he doesn't seem to listen.

What is the matter? Listen to the helpful answer in today's meditation by Basilea Schlink called The Power of Thanksgiving. Prayer that is born out of thanksgiving contains a mighty power. Why? Whoever gives thanks, even before his prayer is answered, thinks highly of God and his love.

He trusts in the love of God, that he will give us of his riches, and that he will put his powers at our disposal. One woman often experienced, no sooner had she gotten into bed at night than accusing thoughts against her husband took hold of her, accusations and resentments that she had repressed during the day. For a long time she prayed, Oh Lord, help me, but nothing changed.

One day, however, she realized, it won't help me a bit to keep praying this way, because it's as if I'm questioning Jesus' redemption, doubting that he really has won the victory for me. Now the way for me to receive is to thank him for what he has already accomplished. From that moment on, every time the temptations and accusations started to fill her heart, the woman began to thank God that Jesus had redeemed her through his death on the cross.

She praised him that he had so redeemed her from her bitter thoughts that they couldn't rule her life. In faith she rejoiced, praying, Hallelujah, Jesus' royal victory belongs to me. When we pray in the right way, by praising and giving thanks, we take possession of that which God has promised us.

For to pray means to stand in faith on the promises of God and to receive them with praise and gratitude. Everyone has experienced difficulties in his life, hopeless situations, or job, money, or family problems. But have you ever, in the midst of such impossibilities, actually begun to thank the Lord? Even if it was only with a short song verse like this one.

To pray this way means to praise the might and helping love of God. And when we begin to think and talk about his love, proclaiming how great it is, our worries and troubles begin to disappear. To think with thanksgiving about the love and power of God makes a person strong and happy.

The heart full of kindness, the heart of love and goodness, the heart of the Godhead, our Father is He. You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org.

If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. God bless you.