Thanksgiving and Praise

By Andrea Marino

I love to ride my bicycle. These times on the road have become what I call my Happy Place. Cycling helps me take care of my physical self with a bonus of ‘feel good’ endorphins pulsing through my body. But more importantly, this alone-time with God, listening to praise music, lifts my spiritual self. It is awesome to find a place to be above the everyday cares of life.

Unfortunately, nearly everything going on in the world these days can trigger worry. Seems life on earth has turned upside down. Worrying only breeds fear, fear swallowing up our faith. God tells us not to worry, and 365 times in the Bible it is written, “Do not fear.” There is no avoiding fear. So, what is important to understand in God’s emphasis here is not to give in to fear, allowing it to dictate how we live. Thanksgiving and praise put us in a position to possess the promises of God, against all fear. The power of the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in the child of God! (Romans 8:11)

Since the beginning of time, the devil has been trying to take down the church, the very Body of Christ. Knowing his time is short, his spiritual attacks on Christians are brutal. God’s words to “pray without ceasing” have taken on greater meaning. Besides the personal assaults, I’m reading alarm on several Christian Facebook pages in a need to prepare for future seasons of famine and drought, where we will undergo electrical power outages for months. Many are stockpiling food and water while sharing various ways to survive. While it’s fine to be prepared and plan ahead, getting sucked into terror, operating in ‘panic mode’ is not okay, and certainly not what God would have us do. We remember His provisions of water from rocks and daily manna in the wilderness for the Israelites. We recall God’s care of the lowly sparrow. (Mathew 6:26) Hard times are times to draw close to the Lord, listening for guidance and direction from Him. Nothing escapes His will for our best. Nothing will prevail against the church of Jesus Christ. (Mathew 16:18) If God is for us, who could be against us? (Romans 8:31)

I have experienced many spiritual battles, where I was gripped by fear. In hindsight, I know God was helping me see the victory He had already won. I share a particular time of great weariness in worry. God simply said to me, “Surely, you can be thankful for something.” I had to pause. And slowly, I considered the gift of eyesight that not all people have. From there came a myriad of things to be grateful for. Amazing was the transformation of spirit that took place in me that day. We enter God’s gates with thanksgiving in our hearts; we enter His courts with praise. (Psalm 100:4,5) Surely in His presence is fullness of joy. Our strength is in the joy of the Lord.

When all the men of Israel saw Goliath come to take them over they retreated in terror. “Then David said, ‘The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.’” (1 Samuel17: 25,37) David was fully persuaded of who God is. His previous victories were cause for thankfulness to God. Though a shepherd boy, small in stature, David took on Goliath, slaying the Philistine giant of a man with a slingshot and stone. God is interested and invested in the focus of our thoughts. For as a man thinks, so shall he be. (Proverbs 23:7)

“Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” (Luke 10:19 NLT) “The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of who should I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1 NIV)

With a yearning to uncover the secret to life, Andrea embarked on a journey to discover truth. The study of Psychology proved inadequate, while the forces of darkness began to make their presence known. The Hobble, from Ai to Bethel encompasses Andrea’s personal victory over fear and bondage to the enemy. Passionate in sharing God’s Good News about Jesus, the author desires to encourage people to never lose hope. Because we all ‘hobble’ before God in need of Him. When not writing, Andrea loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoys cycling on the open roads with her husband, David.

Please email me at rapture927@aol.com and visit my Facebook page, In The Way Everlasting.

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