John 6:6-13 NKJV
“But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.”
INSIGHT
-Thanksgiving is one of the secrets to multiplication. Philip did not comprehend how Jesus intended to feed five thousand followers with only two hundred denarii worth of bread. He noted that the money was not sufficient to buy bread for all of them. In the current conversion, 200 denarii comes to Usd 150 and Kes 18,500, which would buy approximately 370 loaves of bread. Phillip forgot to give thanks for the little that they had and looked at the situation as an impossibility. Andrew noticed a lad who had five barley loaves and two small fish, but he did not comprehend how they would feed 5000 people. Jesus took the bread and the fish, and gave thanks. Jesus always gave thanks and different outcomes were birthed. Give thanks for the little that you have and the Lord will make a way for more. As we come to the end of the year, we should not neglect the little things that have taken place and give thanks to God. Giving thanks paves way for more blessings. Jeremiah 30:19 tells us that, “Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.” When we give thanks, the Lord multiplies us, glorifies us and makes us great, for the glory and honor of His name.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus we give You glory and honor You. You are too wonderful to behold. You are excellent in all Your ways. You are the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. You are the same yesterday, today and forever. We give You thanks and praise for this far that You brought us. We count our blessings and name them one by one. May You instill in us hearts of thanksgiving so that we may appreciate You in all seasons. May we remember to always give thanks for this is Your will in Christ Jesus. May You cleanse us with Your precious blood and forgive all our sins dear Jesus. We thank You and bless Your name for You holy and worthy. We declare that we shall not diminish but multiply. We shall be great in the land and may Your favor go with us. We shall not be last but we shall be the first because we are the blessed of You Lord for the glory and honor of Your name. May You Abba Father supply all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. May You be exulted in everything that You have done and continue to do unto us. Thank You for the peace that You have given unto our nation. Thank You for the milestones that You have taken us as a people, and a nation from the time we began the year to this far. Oh God of all creation may You bless this our land and nation. May justice be our shield and defender. May we dwell in unity, peace and liberty, may peace be found within our boarders. All glory, honor, power and adoration belong to You Lord, now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Philippians 4:19
Acts 16:25-26 NIV
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”
INSIGHT
-Thanksgiving is a weapon of deliverance. Paul and Silas were imprisoned for rebuking the deception spirit from a slave girl who earned money for her masters. They were stripped, severely flogged and thrown into prison. Paul and Silas did not panic for they knew the secret to freedom. When they prayed and gave thanks to God, there was an earthquake, their chains broke loose and the doors flew open. This was made possible by the supernatural hand of God. Several times was king Saul afflicted by a tormenting spirit, and when David played the harp in thanksgiving, he was set free. When we are troubled and in chains whether physical or spiritual, we need to give thanks. Those who are sick and suffering, addicted to alcohol, smoking, drugs, sexual immorality, corruption, oppression of the poor, and other addictions need to give thanks, and the Lord will deliver them. Thanksgiving sets us free from every evil, disease and chains brought forth by the devil who comes to steal, kill and destroy.
PRAYER
Thank You dear Jesus for Your mercy and grace. Thank You Jehovah because You are Yahweh and worthy to be praised. Thank You for redeeming us from darkness into Your marvelous light. Thank You for You loved us and died on the cross for our sins. Thank You for enabling us to celebrate Jamhuri day peacefully. May You set us free from the colonial masters and increase our capacity to do greater works. May You deliver us, our children, friends, colleagues, family members, leaders and nation from corruption, alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual immorality, and all evil, and remove any accusation against us in the courts of heaven merciful Savior. May You deliver us from every chain, lack, delay, depression, pain and shame occasioned by the enemy. May You anoint us afresh with Your oil Holy Spirit and enable to take our mantles and perform our God given purposes. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Mark 5:1-13
2 Chronicles 20:20-24 NKJV
“So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.”
INSIGHT
-Thanksgiving is the secret to victories. Judah was attacked by a great multitude from Syria including the Ammonites, Moabites and people from mount Seir. There was great intelligence among the armies of Judah who noticed that the enemy had already entered the country. When the report was told to king Jehoshaphat, he was afraid and set himself to seek the Lord. Jehoshaphat humbled himself fasted, prayed and gave thanks to God. He exhorted his troops to firm faith in God. Faith inspired him to true courage; as his heart was gradually established during the shaking times. In all our times of trouble and tribulations, we are called to have faith in the Lord and give thanks to Him for what has not yet been manifested. When we give thanks to God, we proclaim His power and ability to change all adverse situations in our favor for the glory of His name. The Lord caused the wicked people to destroy one another when Jehoshaphat led them in a solemn thanksgiving, and thus celebrated their victory in the Lord. We are reminded to stand and see the salvation of the Lord on our behalf. Also that when we have faith in God and begin to give thanks, we cannot boast in ourselves but in the grace of God that saved us.
PRAYER
We humbly come to Your presence dear Jesus that You save us. We boldly come to Your throne of grace that we may obtain grace and mercy to help us during our time of need. This is our time of need dear Jesus, may You fight for us. We enter Your gates with thanksgiving in our hearts and enter Your courts with praise. May You fight for us dear Jesus and give us rest in all situations. May You make a way for us even where there seems to be no way. May You destroy all the troops that seem like the Ammonites, Moabites and people from mount Seir in our lives, families and nation and set us free. May You destroy all the Al-Shabab and other militia who come to kill innocent lives. May You protect us with Your precious blood and preserve us dear Jesus. You are the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through You, may You save us and all Your people Lord. You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, we adore You Lord. Amen
Further reading: Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV
“in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
INSIGHT
-Thanksgiving aligns us to the will of God. The will of God is supreme above our own personal will, and it is His purpose that prevails (Proverbs 19:21). When we pray, we should always consider the will of God for our lives. 1 John 5:14 tells us that, “this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us”. It is the will of God that we give thanks in everything disregarding the outcome.
PRAYER
Let all the people praise You, let all the people praise You Oh Lord. Many are the plans in our hearts but it is Your will Lord that prevails. May You help us to know Your will precious Holy Spirit. May You teach us to do Your will. Many are the plans that You have enabled us to achieve this year, we say thank You dear Jesus. For all the plans which are underway and the projects that will come in future we say thank You. Thank You Lord for the plans that You have for us, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give us a future and hope. Lord You are not a man that You should lie or a son of man that You should repent, for everything that You have promised will come to pass. Your promises are yes and amen, we believe in You dear Jesus. We delight to do Your will, O God, Your Law is within our hearts. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: Philippians 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:3
Luke 17:12-19 NKJV
“Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.””
INSIGHT
-Thanksgiving is an act of faith that makes us whole. The spirit of thanksgiving is scarce, and many people do remember to give thanks to God, whether through prayer, praise or offering. Nine among ten lepers did not come back to give thanks to Jesus when they got healed. Leprosy also known as Hansen’s disease (HD), is a long term infection that damages the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, eyes, and may lead to the loss of ones body parts. In this above narration, only one Gentile among nine Jews gave thanks, and his limbs which possibly were rotten because of his leprosy were restore, and he was made whole. Thanksgiving causes a restoration to take place in our lives. The Lord causes a restoration to take place in our lives when we give thanks to Him. God causes us to receive a double portion instead of shame, and rejoicing in our inheritance instead of disgrace, and everlasting joy forevermore (Isaiah 61:7).
SUMMARY
It is good practice to give thanks for the little and much we receive from God and other people. It is imperative to give thanks to God because He deserves all the glory, praise, honor and power; for He created all things, and they have their being (Revelation 4:11). God deserves to be praise for Who He is and thank Him for His wonderful deeds (Psalm 9:1). God cannot praise Himself therefore He inhibits the presence of worshippers (Psalm 22:3). God’s presence makes all the difference in our lives and situations. The degree of our gratitude determines the magnitude of our journey. 1 Corinthians 10:10 says that, “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” Complaining and grumbling is the recipe for failure. David praised his way after the heart of God. He praised God seven times, “Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.” (Psalms 119:164), and prayed three times, “evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.” (Psalms 55:17). When we pray God answers, but when we give thanks God manifests Himself and enjoin in His divine presence. The force of thanksgiving most potent and gives us access to the heart of God and He gives us supernatural victory. King Jehoshaphat was invaded by troops from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, and when they gave thanks to God, they obtained victory (2 Chronicles 20:20-24). Thanksgiving is a weapon of deliverance. When Paul and Silas prayed and gave thanks to God, there was an earthquake, their chains broke loose and the doors flew open, and they were set free (Acts 16:25-26). Thanksgiving is a secret to multiplication. When the disciples could not fathom how two fish and five bread could feed five thousand people, Jesus gave thanks and performed the miracle (John 6:6-13). Jesus also gave thanks and the dead Lazarus came to life (John 11:41-42). When we give thanks, whatever is dead in our lives comes to life in Jesus name. Thanksgiving should be done always, and it is the will of God in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We need to give thanks always and in all situations for we are not alive by chance, many have passed on before us. God has kept us alive by His mercy and grace and this reason enough to give thanks to Him.
PRAYER
We praise You Lord our God for only You deserve our praise. We sing to You a new song, and praise You in the assembly of saints. We rejoice in You God our Maker, for You Lord take pleasure in Your people, and beautify the humble with salvation. God You have blessed us and cannot thank You enough. We cannot count everything that You have done for us. We thank You for the gift of life and air that we breath. We thank You for providing for us, protecting us, healing our wounds, sustaining us, guiding our steps, giving us peace in our nation, making our plans succeed, and for the gift of salvation. We thank You for when we became faithless, You remained faithful. We count our blessings and name them one by one. We thank You Jehovah for making us whole through You Son, and when we were still sinner Christ died for us. May You cleanse us with Your precious blood and establish us in Your divine will. May You make a way of salvation for all those who do not know You among us dear Jesus. May You heal all those who sick, weak, depressed, stressed, anxious and settle them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank You Lord for enabling us to come this far and for the far that You are taking us. We count our blessings and name them one by one. We know that You are able to complete the work that You began in us, and it shall not tarry nor delay. We find joy, love and favor under Your care. Thank You for loving us and choosing us dear Jesus. May You bless us and keep us Lord. May Your face shine upon us and be gracious unto us. May You turn Your countenance towards us and give us peace. Come Holy Trinity one God, we welcome You into our hearts during this season and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Psalms 136, Isaiah 53:5