Heirs By Grace International

04/04/2022

05/05/2021

Give Thanks
Dear Beloved,Happy New Month.
I feel strongly led to encourage you in this lines as we go forward this month.
You see there is this truth I've come to internalize and I believe it will help us in our journey this year.
You can never progress or amount to anything tangible in life or even in GOD if you have an habit of complaining.
What complaining does is to help you amplify the situation, you are in and it shuts your eyes from the possibilities to come out better from that situation.
Complaining makes you continuously live like a victim in life, because when you complain, you are simply speaking of how the situation you are in is above you and out of your control.
The Israelites are a good example of this, they complained till the point that they confessed death upon themselves and they received the reward of their words.

Exodus 14:10‭-‬12 AMPC
When Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked up, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and the Israelites were exceedingly frightened and cried out to the Lord. And they said to Moses, Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way and brought us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you in Egypt, Let us alone; let us serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.
They did this often...
See again

Exodus 16:2‭-‬3 AMPC
And the whole congregation of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, And said to them, Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Again...
Numbers 14:2‭-‬3 AMPC
All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation, accusing Moses and Aaron, to whom the whole congregation said, Would that we had died in Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness! Why does the Lord bring us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will be a prey. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?

And they received their reward.
Numbers 14:27‭-‬32 AMPC

How long will this evil congregation murmur against Me? I have heard the complaints the Israelites murmur against Me. Tell them, As I live, says the Lord, what you have said in My hearing I will do to you: Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness–of all who were numbered of you, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against Me, Surely none shall come into the land in which I swore to make you dwell, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. But your little ones whom you said would be a prey, them will I bring in and they shall know the land which you have despised and rejected. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness.

Be mindful of your words, they are seeds sown, you will surely reap harvest of the words spoken from your mouth.
By your words you pass judgement on your self and determine your fate.
I'll share a few lessons from the Israelites and what complaining did to them.
Complaining made them loose focus of GOD's goodness . (Deuteronomy 2:7)
Complaining deadens your ability to see GOD's goodness in and around you, rather what it does is amplify your problems above GOD who is the solution to your problems.
You talk yourself out of seeing the ability and willingness of GOD to intervene in that situation.
Hence, when you complain, it is difficult to walk in faith, because your mouth is filled with impossibilities and you don't see a way through.
Complaining made them feel helpless and made them victims of their situations . (Numbers 14:26-34)
When you complain you simply shut out help, you don't see a way of escape and it makes it difficult for you to recognize help even when it is advanced to you.
Complaining keeps you at the level of your problems, it keeps your view of yourself small and shallow, it makes you resign to fate.

Complaining made them suspicious of GOD . (Deuteronomy 1:20-32)
When you complain a lot, it will get to the point where, even when GOD sends help to you, you will think it's GOD's way of getting back at you and punishing you for your complains.

Complaining prolonged their journey to the promised land .(Numbers 14:34-35)
When you complain you get in the way of the quick manifestation of GOD's word until you repent and realign to GOD's word by the words of your lips.
Even though GOD is willing to give you what He has promised you inspite of your words, your words excuse you from the manifestations of this things.

So how do you come out of the habit of complaining?
Do GOD's Word.
See this...
Ephesians 5:4 AMPC
Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to GOD].

This also...
Ephesians 5:20 AMPC
At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to GOD the Father.

Again...
Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 AMPC
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to GOD. And GOD's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from GOD and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

More...
Colossians 3:17 AMPC
And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.

One More...
1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMPC
Thank [GOD] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of GOD for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

Jesus exemplified this in the feeding of 5000 men in the wilderness with two pieces of fish and five loaves of bread.

John 6:5‭-‬11 AMPC
Jesus looked up then, and seeing that a vast multitude was coming toward Him, He said to Philip, Where are we to buy bread, so that all these people may eat? But He said this to prove (test) him, for He well knew what He was about to do. Philip answered Him, Two hundred pennies' (forty dollars) worth of bread is not enough that everyone may receive even a little. Another of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, There is a little boy here, who has [with him] five barley loaves, and two small fish; but what are they among so many people? Jesus said, Make all the people recline (sit down). Now the ground (a pasture) was covered with thick grass at the spot, so the men threw themselves down, about 5,000 in number. Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples and the disciples to the reclining people; so also [He did] with the fish, as much as they wanted.

Thanksgiving multiplies and amplifies GOD's goodness in your eyes, it makes you see the ability and willingness of GOD to come through in whatever situation you are in, so rather than complain, give thanks.
As my Pastor, Reverend Peter Alabi shared, In the midst of challenges is your best opportunity to do the word.
So grab the opportunity today, give thanks in and for all things.
All things are possible to you.
Glory to GOD.
I declare you enjoy the increase of the land this month, what used to be small becomes abundant for you, For your sakes the Lord brings plenty to your territory, your coast is enlarged and you make great progress.
GOD has blessed You.
Happy New Month once again.


01/05/2021
© Oluwaseun Isaiah Ojekola