IT’S NOT OVER YET…

As we approach the end of the year, it’s important that we be cautious in our communication. While many people would have countless reasons to give thanks to God, many others would rather complain about what God has not done.

I know, some of you may be coerced into believing that you haven’t really achieved anything this year, especially when you compare what you’ve achieved with what your goals for the year are. But hear this, if it’s God you’re waiting for, then He can never be late.

“But do not forget this thing; with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day”. That is what 2 Pet 3:8 tells us. The psalmist also mentioned that “a thousand years in God’s sight is like a day that has not ended”. If this is true about God, then why do people give up on God? Why do we often think that it is too late for God to perform everything He has planned to do for us? If a day is like a thousand years to God, imagine what 18 days will be.

If God can put all the achievements that should happen over a thousand years into one day, then He can also make everything you have been waiting for since the year began to happen for you in one day. If you do not believe me, tell me how a prisoner would suddenly become a prime minister in less than 24 hours. That is what happened to Joseph; he continued in faith until the time that his word came. When your word comes, all your struggles will suddenly be turned to testimonies.

Have you been told that there’s no way you can get a good job in this current economy? Have you been told that there is no way you can get married, start a business, go to school, have a child, or even raise a family? In John 14:6 Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. In other words, even though they’ve confirmed that there is no way out for you, Jesus says you should consider their verdict as a lie; because He is The Truth, and as The Truth, He says there is a way, and there is life in the way.

Proverbs 3:6 tells us how to go through the way; it says, “In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths”. In other words, in all your ways, even where there seems to be no way, acknowledge Him, and He will direct you on which way to go.

So just when your landlord is about to kick you out, acknowledge God for the time you’ve stayed in that house or for even paying your first rent, and God will show you a way out of that mess. David didn’t need to be as strong as Goliath, he only acknowledged the God that gave him victory over wild beasts, and God gave him the head of Goliath.

God will not only create a way for you, He’d also create a life in the way. Just when you think that you can’t get something better than what the devil just stole from you, God will surprise you with something more. Who would have thought that Job will eventually have double of everything he lost? Always remember that anytime man says “there’s no way”, God says “I am the way”. All you have to do is to acknowledge Him, and He’d direct your path.

In the mundane world, ingratitude or murmuring may be ignored by God, but He won’t spare those who complain in the kingdom. In Malachi 2:1-3, this was clearly stated. Let’s see how the scripture puts it:

Malachi 2:
1. And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
2. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
3. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.

Notice the words “Priests” and “Commandment” in verse one. If it read kings and priests, it would have implied that those in the mundane world are also affected by that commandment. But no, it’s just for priests, those who represent the kingdom of God.

Numbers 11:1 tells us that “when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp”. And 1 Corinthians 10:10 referred to this scripture when it said, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer”.

You may begin to wonder why murmuring and ingratitude infuriates God, well that’s because gratitude in itself is a mystery that perfects His plan for us. Jesus had every reason to complain when He discovered that Lazarus was dead. Initially, when they told Him about Lazarus’s ailment, He told them that Lazarus wasn’t going to die. He even stayed back for 2 days – most likely to seek the face of God concerning Lazarus. But amazingly, before He left, He confirmed to His disciples that Lazarus had died. How do we connect that experience? “This sickness isn’t unto death”, “Lazarus is dead”.

So what if someone bought over the house that God promised you? So what if you didn’t get the job as planned? A change in result doesn’t connote a change in His Word. God’s Word will still come to pass – the evident results notwithstanding.

Jesus knew how to enforce God’s word even when the evident result says otherwise. He went to the tomb where Lazarus was laid, and gave thanks to God for hearing Him when He prayed. Many times we burden ourselves with the evident results that we underestimate the Almighty God. If God could create an army from dry bones, what can’t He do? So Jesus gave thanks, and Lazarus who was dead and stinking came back to life. Hallelujah!

No matter how dead and gone, no matter how late it may seem, thanksgiving can restore life to any situation. Lazarus had reached his very last. He had died and had even been buried for four days. Martha said “by now he’d be stinking”; his matter had already been concluded. But Jesus made them understand that though he may have reached his last, but there is still life in the last. And as He gave thanks to God, Lazarus who had reached his very last received life.

God still gives His best, even at the last moments. Jesus needed to feed 5000 people, and all they could find were 5 loaves of bread and two fishes. That was the last in the whole area. But Jesus knew what to do to bring life out of the last. As He thanked God for the last, enough was provided to feed over 5000 people, even with leftovers. God can still make something tangible out of this last days of the year for you. All you have to do is what Jesus did; thank Him for what you have, and experience life from what seems to be last.

So engage in thanksgiving to God, and try not to generalize your thanksgiving. Count your blessings and thank God for them one-by-one. Thank God for every single client He has given you this year, thank God for every network He has created for you, thank God for every sickness He delivered you from, thank Him for every wrong relationship He saved you from. Thank Him for every moment He delivered you from trouble. Generalizing your appreciation to God may not give you access to the blessings you desire.

I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone.

Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!

#EmekaAnslem
#writer
#inspiration
#knowledge
#understanding
#wisdom
#revelation
#trending
#UnthinkableHeights