Dr. Samuel Donkor (Snr Pastor, ANFGC)
Life presents positive and negative experiences; we rejoice in one and are saddened in others. In other words, some experiences make us happy while others make us sad. However, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us that we have the power to turn every experi¬ence into a positive one. If you’re wondering how; the answer is simple. By giving thanks, The power of thanksgiving Thanksgiving is one of the most powerful tools we have as Christians. Thanksgiving has the power to: · Create a positive atmosphere around a negative Incident · Put a positive charge into negative circumstances · Take the pain out of sad situations The Psalmist in Psalm 124 is giving thanks to God for the deliverance he has received. You may be saying to yourself, “my situation is not going so well; I can’t seem to find and keep a suitable job; my child is unruly; I can’t find a spouse; it doesn’t look like I will graduate; I can barely makes ends meet.” You may be correct in making all these observations, yet the Bible still says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Giving Thanks Releases the Problem into God’s Hands Whatever you give thanks for is released into God’s hands. We normally give thanks in appreciation of what has already been done in our favour. But when you give thanks while you are still going through the situation, you take ownership from the devil and release it to God. The more you complain, moan and cry over your negative circumstances the more you empower Satan, the source of evil, to afflict you even more. But the moment you praise and thank God, you acknowledge Him as the source of your life and circumstances. So guess what? Because He is the source of everything good, the outcome of your situation has to be good. Romans 8:28 rightly declares, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” When you start thanking God for your situation, He will have something to work with. When we acknowledge Him as the all-powerful healer; He heals. When we acknowledge that He is our provider; He provides. When we acknowledge that He alone saves; He saves. When we acknowledge that He alone is sufficient in all our trials; His grace becomes more than enough. We must thank God with every fibre of our being. We give thanks with rejoicing, with gratitude, with sincerity, with an offering and with our testimony. We must give thanks! | 
