FAITH CAPSULE: Regardless of the magnitude of your challenge, trun to God by giving thanks.

Psalm 34

Have you been written off or your challenge has chained you down? Regardless of the magnitude of your challenge, turn to God by giving thanks. Lazarus was pronounced dead and placed in the cave by the time Jesus got to his cave. Stone was rolled against Lazarus’ possibility to return from dead to life. For Lazarus hope was shattered, mourning and grieve took over Lazarus’ family and friends. Above all, there was no medical practitioner recorded to be on ground because it was finished for Lazarus. Jesus, the Commanding commander gave a command that the stone be removed for hope to be restored. It is written, “So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me. When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.” (John 11:41-44) Among the actions of Jesus for Lazarus to come back to life were: Jesus looked up for divine intervention. He was setup example for us to know and to always look up when all hope is lost. Jesus looked up and gave thanks to God. Jesus did not look to man; He did not look up to complain but He looked up to giving thanks for all God has done by hearing Him; He gave thanks with expectation for what was yet at hand. Jesus’ gave thanks knowing that God always hear Him. In all situation know to give God heart-full of  thanks.
In the face of any challenge a true believer should never look anywhere except to look up with expectation unto the Almighty God, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent God. Believer that is true to the core should look up to the only One who is “…the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy (Isaiah 57:15). Whenever deception, delay, denial, or destruction, knocks or shows up unexpectedly He is always there waiting to act for those who look up to Him. Many giants in the hand of God repeatedly looked up to Him for direction, deliverance and preservation during their life journey. Looking up to God should not be just at times of challenges, but also at the time of lifting His Holy name high. It is recorded in, Psalm 34:5, “They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.”  Is there any confronting shameful situation that is set against you? What is your challenge? In waiting for the Lord God of Israel, He will acknowledge you when your eyes are set on Him. The book of Micah 7:7 buttressed, “Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.”  Do not look away from God at all time but begin to look up to God for His divine intervention.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of continual thanks giving, looking to Him alone.