I heard the LORD speak today and he said to me, “My people are murmuring in the wilderness, but I have called them to have grateful hearts!

Many have never learned to be grateful for what they have been given and they have never learned to say thank you to those who have fed into their spiritual growth, but instead have focused on the negative and began to murmur!

Therefore they have remained in their wilderness!”

“Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did — and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death). Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period). Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].” 1 Corinthians 10:10-12.

Then he reminded me of this scripture that is at the end of all of the blessings and curses!

“Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness of [mind and] heart [in gratitude] for the abundance of all [with which he had blessed you], therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD shall send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and in want of all things; and he will put a yoke of iron upon your neck until he has destroyed you,” Deuteronomy 28:47 (AMPC).

Thankfulness is faith in action

Being thankful will lead you to sing or speak what God speaks about a person or situation, but we in our flesh are negative, so we must be told in the word to “Be thankful” in other words it is in obedience that we must look for the good in a person or a situation! This is like God many times even calling those things that be not as though they were!

Gratefulness causes you to focus on the good in people

We in America have been through a rather tough period in our history with all of the negative campaigns and racial mess that we have been through recently.

This last year or so has totally weighed us down with so many grumbling and complaining about one another that it has literally started to manifest in so much hatred that people are now gunning one another down on the street.

But what if we would begin to find the good in one another and be grateful for every persons contribution to our country. It would change overnight.

Those that love him and are grateful will see the greater things!

“But, on the contrary, as the scripture says, what eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love him [who hold him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying him and gratefully recognizing the benefits he has bestowed],” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

You see those of you who have a grateful heart for gods benefits will see the greater things that their carnal mind could never receive! If we are continually thinking on the bad in our brothers and sisters then, we can not see past those things to the glory that is in them and even in themselves.

They will never see the glory that God wants to come forth from them! But if we will begin to look at them with grateful hearts and minds then we too will become those that will call it forth in them.

Prophets must see with grateful eyes

It is really hard to move in the prophetic, when all we see is the negative stuff in them. This will truly cloud your vision. There are a lot of people out there prophesying their negative opinions to others and wounding them instead of causing them to grow into what God sees in them!

“Ask me and I will give you eyes to see the good”

God is saying that he is truly looking for a people who have grateful hearts toward him and toward their brothers and sisters in the LORD!

He is looking for those with pure thoughts toward them and who have not gotten bitter so that they will not defile the body of Christ! “Begin to see what I see, ask Me and I will give you My eyes to see, only you must practice the power of being grateful!”

Look for those good things in your brothers and sisters and your heart will begin to be pliable again! Look for the good in your nation, and in your cities and churches! Look for it, and then, what you think about them and speak will bring forth the good in them again!

Say it to them, point it out, “Exhort one another while you are able and you will begin to make a difference in your family, your church and your city!” Glory to God!

“And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you,” Philippians 4:8-9 (TLB).

 

~ by Jo Ellen Stevens
Arise Shine!

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Jo Ellen Stevens of TCIC Ministries is a Prophetic speaker, author, worshiper and intercessor. She has ministered with her husband for 23 years and was a worship leader at the Assembly of God for many years. She is an ordained minister (Restoration Ministries) and works with Restoration Ministries in their Ministry Rooms doing prophetic worship with her husband. She has taught many bible studies and have led many intercessory prayer groups.

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