Glory to God! It’s the last day of 2024, and what an awesome God we serve. His mercy has kept us through thick and thin. Despite all the economic predictions and challenges, you and I are still here. Yes, you may not have received answers to every prayer, but I’m certain you’ve received blessings you didn’t even pray for.
As we prepare to step into 2025 in grand style, I want to encourage you to do just one thing: focus on what God has done. It is that simple. Take a moment to reflect on His goodness in 2024. Shift your focus away from what you think hasn’t been done.
You see, the devil’s strategy is to keep us preoccupied with analyzing our unanswered prayers. The more we dwell on those, the more worried, angry, and even depressed we become.
Psalm 73:2-5 (MSG) But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people at the top, envying the wicked who have it made, who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world.
Isn’t it interesting that the wicked seem to have no worries, while we as believers often become experts at worrying? Stop looking the other way. Stop comparing yourself to those who seem to have “made it.” Stop fixating on those who are married or those whose lives seem perfect.
So, what should you do instead?
Psalm 73:17 (MSG) “Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture.”
Enter the sanctuary of God—the sacred place where His presence dwells and worry disappears. Imagine standing in front of God Himself. Would you be thinking about your failed business? Would it matter that you’re still unmarried on the last day of the year? Or would your attention be fixed on Him, knowing that all your worries can end instantly?
Step into God’s sanctuary through praise and prayer. Set your gaze on the Master, and let His presence fill your heart.
Let me give you a reason to be thankful: Do you know that over 62 million people have died globally in 2024 alone? Yet you are not part of that statistic. Isn’t that a good reason to thank God?
Here’s another reason:
Psalm 136:1 (KJV) O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The word “mercy” has many meanings, one of which is God withholding punishment. Imagine what would happen if God withdrew His mercy. You wouldn’t even be reading this article right now! Let’s not forget how many promises we made to God this year and failed to keep. Yet, His mercy remains.
Rather than sulking over what hasn’t been done, why not focus on what has? Reflect on God’s faithfulness, and let gratitude fill your heart.
May God grant you a deeper understanding as you enter this new year. Amen.
What are you most grateful to God for as we wrap up the year? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
The habit of thanksgiving is good. In fact, it makes everyone around you want to do something for you, you know why? That’s because everyone loves to be appreciated.
Let me show you something interesting. Even the bible says we should give thanks in everything.
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. KJV 1Thessalonia 5:18
Giving thanks is God’s will for us as his children. His desire is for us to be appreciative of everything and anything.
The bible says “in everything”, another translation says “in every circumstances.”
In essence, all the time is when we should give thanks.
Giving thanks or saying thank you shows you are a grateful person, and grateful people get more things, unlike someone that isn’t appreciative.
So many things happen when we give thanks, to God, our parents, friends and everyone.
1. You make the person receiving the thanks or appreciation happy
2. You get blessed the more. It’s very simple, if you say thank you for biscuits you’ll get more. Try it.
3. You can multiply what you have by giving thanks.
Remember Jesus, when he fed the five thousand, he gave thanks and broke the bread, then gave his disciples to share. He feed five thousand people and more with five loaves of bread and two fishes.
How do you learn this habit?
1. By asking the Holy Spirit to help you be a grateful person.
2. By thanking God all the time for what you have.
3. By being appreciative each time you get something.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be thankful always; Amen.
Action point: Study the word “gratitude”
Declaration: I am grateful to God. I thank my maker every day of my life.
One of the greatest miracles Jesus performed in the bible was when he fed more than five thousand people with five loaves and two fishes.
I am sure you have read this story in your bible storybook. How awesome do you think that must have been for Jesus disciples and the people that ate the bread and fish?
Let me show you what I learned from this story of five loaves and two fishes.
“…We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. –Matthew 14:17-21 (NIV)
1. Jesus directed the people to sit down. As children of God, God wants you to be orderly, even Jesus needed people to be orderly before he performed the miracle.
2. Jesus gave thanks to God. Thanksgiving is very important for us as God’s children, learn to give thanks at all times. That’s how to multiply your sweet and biscuit, thank God for providing for your parents, and then thank your parents for buying you things you like. Always be grateful.
3. The disciples obeyed Jesus. Obedience is very important; God wants you to obey your parents and those older than you. In fact, there is a blessing attached to obeying your parents, the bible says if you do, your days will be long.
After over five thousand people ate from five loaves and two fishes, there were leftover of twelve baskets full, don’t you want that kind of blessing for you and your parents? Be orderly, give thanks and stay obedient and God will keep blessing your parents because of you.
Prayer:
Father in the name of Jesus, help me to be orderly, obedient and always thankful in Jesus name. Amen.
Action Plan:
Take time to thank God for your parents.
Declaration:
My children are full of gratitude and obedient at all times.
Ideally, when someone gives you a gift or offers a compliment, you ought to say thank you (that’s gratitude). Why?
Because it shows courtesy, that you are well brought up and not a country bumpkin.
Also, it’s a sacrifice on the person’s side. They decided to give you out of love or they saw that you needed something.
Even with a compliment, the person took his or her time to really look at you and decide to appreciate you for how you dressed, your hair, how clean your nails are, or how nice you smell. They noticed you.
The least you can say is thank you with a very genuine and friendly smile.
If someone pays you a compliment about how good your grades are, say thank you.
The Bible tells us to be thankful and that when we are grateful for what we have, we will receive more.
There are lots of people out there looking for who to notice them and would be grateful to just have one person say to them “you look good.” Remember to say thank you the next time you get a gift or compliment.
Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for all I have. Thank you for providing for my needs. Thank you for the compliments I have gotten and will get. Help me to always appreciate whatever I receive from others. Amen.
Action plan: Consciously be aware of people’s compliments. Ensure you reply with a smile and “thank you.”
Declaration: My children are grateful. They show appreciation in all they do.
Today is Oil For Today – Day 221. Let’s lift up our voice one more time as we pray to God! Watch Video on Youtube HERE. Check other days HERE.
Scriptures For Today
Oil For Today – Day 221
Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Psa 40:11 (KJV)
Prayer Points For Today
Oil For Today – Day 221
1. Begin to thank the Lord for today.
2. Angels of favour and good news, visit me with your blessings, in Jesus’ name
3. Every unfruitfulness, in my life, receive divine fertility and yield your fruit now, in Jesus’ name
4. Every satanic marital bondage, against my life, break by fire, in the name of Jesus
5. I frustrate every evil strategy against the purpose of God for my life and my family, in Jesus’ name
6. Every spirit behind bitterness, unforifgiving spirit, loose your grip upon my soul in Jesus name
7. My head, my soul and spirit, you will not cooperate with failure and frustration in Jesus’ name.
8. I recover back everything the enemies stole from me, in the past years, in Jesus’ name
9. Doors of opportunities shut against me in the past years, open now, in Jesus name
10. Begin to thank the Lord for answered prayers
Confession For Today
Oil For Today – Day 221
According to Pslam 40:11, by the mercies of God, and His lovingkindness and His truth, my soul is preserved from corruption and from all the wiles of the evil one in Jesus name. According to Luke 1:26-33, angels of good news and favour are visiting me in Jesus name! According to Jos. 6:20, every roadblock on my way to destiny and greatness, they are cleared in Jesus name! According to Jer. 29:11, I frustrate every evil strategy and plans of the evil one against me and my family in Jesus name!
