We Give Thanks- Day 17

Thanksgiving multiplies.

When we don’t have enough, or are lacking something, our first instinct is usually to complain or grumble.

God does not like grumbling. The heart posture that produces grumbling is one that asserts that God is unfaithful, and does not take care of his own.

This is why the Lord rebuked the children of Israel for grumbling because they had no food in the wilderness. Their need and desire was valid, but instead of trusting the God who delivered them from centuries of bondage to provide something as little as food for them, they chose to grumble and murmur against God.

On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin,a which is between Elim and Sinai. And there in the desert they all grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”- Exodus 16:1-3

Something important to note about the heart of man is that it forgets easily. They were quick to forget the mighty deliverance God had wrought for them. God created them. God knew they needed food to survive. God was going to feed them by His own hand, because He was aware of the fact that they could not farm or fend for themselves in the wilderness. If they hadn’t seen the food yet, or weren’t sure that it would come, all they needed to do was ask God, and He would have given them an answer.

Reader, you can trust that God’s heart and intentions towards you are good always, and if you’re missing something, all you need to do is ask!

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. - Exodus 16:4

In contrast, Jesus was in a remote location with a crowd of thousands of people who had come to listen to him teach. He knew that they needed to eat, because they had stayed there with him for hours.

Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.” The disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?” “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.” And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. A total of four thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.- Matthew 15:32-37

In both scenarios, there was a legitimate need. However, only one need was channelled properly. Even when we are making requests, the Lord expects and demands gratitude.

Apostle Paul exhorts believers, in the Book of Philippians, as follows:

Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God- Philippians 4:6 

Thanksgiving prompt: Start with repentance. Repent for all the times you have grumbled, complained and murmured. We are all prone to do so, and have likely done so many times. Present your needs to the Lord with thanksgiving.

I advice that you journal your thanksgiving, it will help you engage in it more consciously, and in 50 days, you will have a record of gratitude. You can play the song below as you journal.

As always, please share with a friend!