THREE POWERFUL COMMANDS FOR A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING VI

2. Pray without ceasing CONT’D.
A lot of people get themselves building physical muscles, lifting weights but when it comes to prayer, they chicken out. Pray without ceasing! That is a divine prescription. Without ceasing means without ceasing. If you think you have prayed enough, double up. Pray ceaselessly. No matter how busy you are, if you make God your focus, you will become a focus. The presence of God will be so real in your life that it will be easy for you to rejoice. The reason why some people find it difficult to fully rejoice is because the Holy Spirit is not flowing. If there is no connection, there cannot be deposits. Anywhere you don’t have a good connection, there will not be deposits. Joy is a fruit of your connection to the Holy Spirit. Let joy flow. It is not circumstantial. It is above circumstance. You may not praise God for the circumstance, but you can decide to praise him in the circumstance.

3. Give thanks

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV

Whenever you are giving thanks, you are doing the will of God; in everything, in all circumstances. It is a decision you have to make. It is a choice. I have never seen a thankful person who is dry. Thanksgiving, particularly in difficult circumstances, is a bold declaration of faith. God honours it. It brings divine intervention easily. After reading Malachi 2:2, I decided that I will give thanks. Not giving thanks brings curse. Thanksgiving brings increase. Jesus was faced with a difficult situation that required a miracle, he gave thanks. Thousands of people were to be fed, there were limited resources. Jesus gave thanks. By the time the needs of the people were met, there was a left-over of twelve baskets. Thanksgiving brings overflow. Give thanks! An advance thanksgiving involves thanking God for what you are trusting him to do, thanking God in advance. It is high level demonstration of faith.

“Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.”

Psalm 67:5-7, KJV

Thanksgiving releases the blessings of God cheaply. The highest form of prayer is praise and it goes together with thanksgiving. God inhabits the praises of his people (Psa. 22:3). Praise brings down the glory of God. When he comes down he touches the mountains and they smoke. Jesus was confronted with a very serious problem. His friend, Lazarus died. Four days after, he arrived at the grave of Lazarus, Jesus groaned. He gave thanks and then commanded Lazarus to come forth and he that was dead and buried for four days came out of the grave. Thanksgiving will turn that impossible situation around in your life.

TO BE CONTINUED.