GRATITUDE

The moment you expresse gratefulness or gratitude to any show of favour no matter how small, you\’re bound to water your ground for other harvest.

In the book of 1 Samuel chapter 2 from verse 1 says …and Hannah praise and said. \”(1) MY HEART IS HAPPY IN THE LORD, I FEEL VERY STRONG IN MY GOD. I LAUGH AT MY ENEMIES, I AM VERY HAPPY IN MY VICTORY . (2) THERE IS NO HOLY GOD LIKE THE LORD. THERE IS NO GOD BUT YOU. THERE IS NO ROCK LIKE OUR GOD.(3) DON\’T CONTINUE BRAGGING. DON\’T SPEAK PROUD WORDS BECAUSE THE LORD GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING. HE LEADS AND JUDGES PEOPLE\”. (1Samuel 2:1-3) ERV.

Hannah was the wife of Elkanahin the Bible (1 Samuel 2:1) who fervently prayed to God for a son and God answered her then she later came back with heart full of gratitude to give thanks and praises to God Almighty.

God in His numerous mercies has shown me uncommon favours that I can\’t but be grateful to Him and use this medium to express my gratitude to Him mostly for saving my life from the hands of the wicked and unreasonable men of the underworld. That fateful day, it was the 3rd, the first week in the month of February 2019, Around evening hours I received a call from one of my colleagues who informed me of a meeting in Abuja the next day being 4th of February monday morning hours by 9 am. In other to meet the time I hadn\’t any other option than to pick few things and packed my baggage around 6.30 pm and drove off from my village in Owerri Imo state the southeast part of Nigeria all that long way to Abuja in a company of a police Sargent who was at the passenger\’s in front of the car as we continued he suggested that we should pick few people who wanted to join us since it was a night journey

To God be the glory, I drove all the way but on getting to one of the check points, though they were fully dressed in army uniform with their weapons, when we ran into their road blocks, it was a different set in comparison with the other check points we had passed, at first not afraid because we equally had passed through other army in uniform road blocks along Lokoja road in kogi state the North Central of Nigeria. It was around 3am, we drove to the check point where we are asked to stop with some barricade on the road different from what we had seen as a road blocks all the way without molestation but that check point dressed in army uniform immediately raised they gun up and pointed them on the vehicle and started ordering us, they ordered all of you come down surrender everything you have immediately they started beating us as well as torturing us, they ordered us to the bush where they mercilessly flogged me each flogging I was shouting Jesus! Jesus!! Jesus!!!, they flogged and use matchet on me, one of the hardest blows that dislodged my tooth came from one of them with his matchet and I shouted Jesus Christ is Lord. I almost fainted but I hard one of them shouted back at me and said run, run away from here. Honestly I couldn\’t move because no strength in me but God Almighty took me out of that point and saved me, then as I was hidden in a very thick bush reciting psalm 91…. saying he who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…… While lying down murmuring my prayers those who escaped had ran to the last military check point and informed the soldiers who came with their truck to rescue us. When the armed robbers heard the voices coming from a distance and they felt they are not safe, they immediately disembarked while some of us who are still hidden inside the thick forest were there until the soldiers called out that we should come out from our hidden places.

It was a nasty experience but God in His mercies delivered me and others that are being held in the forest. I thank the Lord for delivering us from the torture of the demon possessed robbers Good saved my life and gave me a brand new life. Since then I have not stop appreciating and praising Him, He is awesome God.

All thanks belongs to God who lives in heaven 🙏

Psalm 107 says 1.\”THANK YOU TO THE LORD FOR BEING SO GOOD FOR ALWAYS BEING SO LOVING AND KIND. 2 HAS THE LORD REDEEMED YOU? THEN SPEAK OUT! TELL OTHERS, HE HAS SAVED YOU FROM YOUR ENEMIES\”. (Psalm 107:1-2) NIV.

The Lord has been gracious to us even in some areas we do not think it matters. We should not take it for granted thinking is one of those things that just happens No! make it a habit to always say thank you JESUS 🙌 at all times in other not to trample the mercies of God down your feet in the show of ingratitude.

\”NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, AWAYS BE THANKFUL, FOR THIS IS GOD\’s WILL FOR YOU WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS\”. (1Thessslonians 5:18) NIV

Be grateful to God always and allow the prompting of His spirit in your heart to lead you. In all your ways acknowledge Him for He shall direct your part. Remain blessed as you read. ✍️ Mrs Blessing I N Onughs