Christian Living

The Supernatural Power of Thankfulness

by Ernesto Aragon
10/27/17
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Often times when we’re faced with big problems, we start complaining and we forget about all the times God delivered us from our problems in the past. In Psalm 106 21:22, the Israelites also forgot about all the things God had done for them. It says: They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. Clearly, it’s nothing new that we tend forgot about what God has done for us when start to face serious problems. One great way for us to see God come through again is by remembering what God has done for us and by being thankful for our deliverance.

It’s easy to focus on what God’s not doing, but instead of spending our time complaining about our problems which accomplishes absolutely nothing, we need to focus on what God is doing and what he has done. When we shift our focus from our problem to what God is actually doing in our lives, that’s when the supernatural power of thankfulness releases faith for God to solve our current problem.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). When we shift our focus to being thankful instead of complaining about our problems, that’s when faith moves the heart of God to bring a divine solution to our problems.

Earlier this year I was a missionary living in Spain, but I had to return to California in June for reasons that were out of my control. In the first few weeks I found myself complaining and wondering how I was going to make money, but then I remembered all the ways God had provided for me last year in regards to money. In April of 2016, I left my job in the automotive industry to go to the Harvest School of Missions which is a school of ministry in Mozambique.

Since school started in October 2016, and I no longer had a job, I had no idea how I would pay the $8,000 I need to attend the school and pay off my $10,000 car loan before October, but God provided. In 6 months, though doing side jobs, selling my books, and receiving donations from friends and family, I was able to pay off my car loan, sell my car, and I got the $8,000 I needed to go to Africa for Ministry School. Without God, this is impossible, but with God, nothing is impossible.

Getting back to when I was complaining about not having a job or any money after getting back from Spain, when I remembered and was thankful for all the financial miracles God has done in my life last year, the Lord started to provide financially for me this year.

We’re all guilty of forgetting about God and complaining about our immediate problems, but when we take our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and focus on what God has done for us in our lives, that’s when our thankfulness will take us to a level of breakthrough we never dreamed was possible.