No.151. Thanksgiving and revival.
We have been on our journey of thanksgiving now for five months. It’s a journey I believe that God initiated. A journey of transformation whereby as we have been turning to God in thanksgiving throughout these months, our faith has been growing, our friendship and fellowship with Him also, and our walk with Him is becoming more full of faith and joy day by day.
The Lord has been giving us reasons to thank Him daily, and showing us that in every situation we can thank Him because He is working in all things to transform us to the image of His son. Romans 8:29. He is daily reminding us of His goodness and His good intentions towards us His children.
When God through Isaiah promised restoration to His people He said ‘The nations shall see your righteousness and all kings your glory ….You will be a crown of splendour in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God’. Isaiah 62 2,3. Thanksgiving is like a precious diamond with many facets. It is a jewel in that crown of splendour that the Lord is wanting His children to wear in these days. As we cultivate hearts of thanksgiving I believe we will shine, and the world will see something of the beauty of our God reflected in us.
So I believe the Lord is giving us these encouragements to grow in thankfulness to prepare us for revival. He wants to get our hearts ready and our lives closely entwined with His, so that He can move through His people to reach the world. The Holy Spirit loves gratitude, and He will gladly come and indwell a grateful heart. The Lord will also come to a loving and unified gathering of His people, and as we have seen in our last few blogs thanksgiving helps to increase our love for each other and our oneness in Him.
There is a song that I feel encapsulates something of our original purpose in writing these blogs. It was written in 2006 by Brooke Fraser of Hillsong.
I see the King of Glory coming on the clouds with fire; the whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes.
I see His love and mercy washing over all our sin; the people sing, the people sing;
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest
I see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith, with selfless faith.
I see a near revival stirring as we pray and seek; we’re on our knees we’re on our knees
Heal my heart and make it clean;
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me,
Break my heart for what break yours;
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause, as I walk from earth into eternity.
The Lord is raising up an army of ‘thankful ones’, those who love Him and are learning to love each other the way He loves us, those who are getting ready to represent Him to a very, very needy world.
We are so glad that you have joined us on this journey and we hope that you will keep travelling on with us, through the rest of the year.
