God has brought me thus far. He answered my prayers to clear all my debts in super duper fast speed. He blesses me with super duper energy to give tuition 5 nights a week, on top of my full-time job as a private school teacher. Thanks to these tuition assignments, I've been blessed with an allowance of more than $1K. To others this amount is peanuts, but to me, this amount covers my daily expenses, such that I do not really need to touch my full-time salary. Thank God for that!
Every day when I wake up, each time when I go for tuitions, I will always thank God. I thank God for His providence. God has put me into a great time of lack to humble me, yet He's has also shown me how He alone can pull me out and bless me abundantly. We need to adopt a heart of gratitude. How many of us truly thank God for our blessings, however minor it may seem? I wish to share with you this miracle of Jesus healing the 10 lepers.
Luke 17:11-19
Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”"
Jesus asked one of the 10 whom he had healed, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” In the midst of their excitement, they left and forgot to thank Jesus for their healing. The other one man, left with them too. However, he suddenly remembered about Jesus and came back to thank Him. To which Jesus replied “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Were the other 9 not well? I believe they were completely healed, for Jesus is not a petty God. Neither will He take back any blessings which He has poured (though it's to my belief that He will and can humble you if that is what is needed to draw you back or closer to Him). "Your faith has made you well,” Jesus said. What did this man do that was different from the other nine? He had a heart of gratitude, and He came back to thank Jesus for His healing! So what did this man have that the other 9 did not? A heart of gratitude!
Well, isn't it interesting that Jesus chose to say "Your faith has made you well”, instead of "Your gratitude has made you well"? From what I perceive, He is telling us that faith = gratitude! If you have faith, you will thank God in every circumstances, regardless of its outcome! If you have a heart of gratitude towards God in every and anything, it means you have faith that God alone can do ALL things! And so you thank God for His powers and abilities, be it whether your prayers have been answered or not! Can you see the link? Can you see that faith and gratitude is synonymous in this case?
Therefore, I choose to thank God each time I get to open my eyes every morning, and for His strength within me to work and contribute to the economy, and to carry His cross and be His light to the world. I thank God each time I get to talk to a new friend, re-unite with an old pal, or simply hang out with friends. These quality times with friends are truly luxuries to me, given my busy schedule. I thank God the most when I get any opportunity to share about Christ. For I am storing up treasures in heaven! And I am planting the seeds of eternity into others! How joyful can that be! Oh, and I am very thankful too whenever I get to fill my ever-hungry stomach.
How many of you truly thank God for every little good things that come your way? Or are you like the ingrate lepers, who took His blessings for granted? Or worst, you don't even realised you've been blessed, or who your blessor is? If we are taught to walk by faith and not by sight, doesn't that also mean that through every of our steps, we are to be grateful towards Him, whose grace alone is sufficient for us?
How would you like to try this out? Be conscious about every thing that you believe is from God, e.g. the air, your good sleep last night, a good dream, your pet, your parents, your job and each time when you receive your salary, your friends, and each time when you get to catch up with them, each time you have a satisfying meal, each time you get a seat on the train, etc. And thank God for them! By the way, each time when we sing a praise song to God, we are thanking Him.
See, there's so many things to thank God for! And God is certainly pleased when you thank Him. It tells Him that you acknowledge His blessings and works in your life, but more importantly, it tells God that you remember Him and that He is always on your mind. When you have trained yourself to be grateful to God in every circumstances, big or small, you have mastered the secrets to physical and mental wellness. Remember Jesus' parting shot to the grateful leper, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Indeed, your faith has made you whole! And when you thank God enough, there's no room for depressive thoughts.
Thank you, Jesus. For guiding me every step of my way, every word from my mouth, and every thought through my mind. Through these, I am made whole and well.
