Thanksgiving: A Weapon of Warનમૂનો

Day 2: Thanksgiving as a Weapon of War

Written by Opeyemi Ibikunle

Key Verse:"Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands." – Psalm 149:6 (NLT)

God inhabits the praises of His people. This profound truth resonates deeply when I contemplate the intricate connection between thanksgiving and spiritual warfare. The story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:21-24 powerfully illustrates this principle. As Judah's army raised their voices in praise, God orchestrated a miraculous victory, causing their enemies—the armies of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir—to turn against each other. This divine intervention resulted in a resounding triumph for Judah, with not a single enemy soldier left standing. Such is the potency of praise in the spiritual battle.

As believers, we often drift from a posture of thanksgiving into worry and anxiety. In doing so, we momentarily lose sight of the fundamental truth that our God is the great I AM THAT I AM, our all-encompassing provider and sustainer. Consider a child living under their parent's roof yet constantly fretting about where they'll live. This behavior would demonstrate a lack of trust in their parent's ability and willingness to provide. Similarly, our worrying can indicate wavering trust in our Heavenly Father's provision.

When we thank God, we surrender our worries and concerns to Him. We acknowledge Him as our provider, just as a child trusts in the provision of their parents. This posture of gratitude invites God’s presence, transforming our battles into moments of victory.

Matthew 7:11 reminds us that if we, despite our imperfections, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our perfect Heavenly Father bestow good gifts upon those who ask Him? The crux of the matter lies in our approach to God in prayer—the art of thanksgiving, as beautifully articulated in Philippians 4:6.

Today, take a moment to draw nearer to the Lord, surrendering your worries and concerns to him with the consciousness that God inhabits the praises of his people.