"Benjamin," my dad shouted, "can I have your watch back?"
It remains vivid in my memory as if it happened yesterday. My dad, who had previously gifted me a beautiful watch, suddenly decided to reclaim it. I had eagerly anticipated owning that watch for quite some time, so I was bewildered when he took it back. Perplexed, I left his room, only to be summoned back later for an explanation.
My dad pointed out that I hadn't uttered a word of gratitude upon receiving the gift. He emphasized the importance of always expressing gratitude whenever someone bestows something upon me. According to him, a simple "Thank you" acknowledges the giver's generosity and encourages them to continue doing kind acts for me. This valuable lesson taught me the significance of expressing gratitude whenever I receive something.
We may sometimes fail to receive more from God because we neglect to thank Him for the blessings He has already given us. Like the story of the nine lepers who failed to express gratitude after being healed, many Christians overlook the power of giving thanks.
We may remember when we went above and beyond for someone and how we felt when they never acknowledged our efforts with a simple "Thank you." Our motivation to continue helping that person probably diminished significantly.
Lack of gratitude has a profound impact on God. It sometimes hinders His desire to do more for us simply because we fail to express gratitude. Jesus understood the secret power of thanksgiving, which enabled Him to perform the miracle of multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish to feed a crowd of five thousand plus. Although what He had seemed inadequate compared to the need, He received an abundance through the power of thanksgiving.
Consider your current needs and make a conscious decision to thank God for what you already have instead of focusing on your lack. You will witness multiplication in that specific area that exceeds your expectations.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and pasja1000.)
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Benjamin Fiadonu has been a Christian for about fifteen years. He gave his life to Christ at the age of twelve and has never looked back. He believes the Word of God is powerful and has within it the ability to change a person for the better. He enjoys writing about God's word and has been doing so for two years. You can follow Benjamin at https://thenewslettersblog.wordpress.com.