Spiritual Strength For Each Day

“…Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren” (Nehemiah 12:8).

Is it important to give thanks? There are so many offices in the world today, but here in the Bible a particular office is mentioned: that of thanksgiving. We do not know why this is only mentioned once in the whole of the Bible. Out of the men returning from Babylon (present-day Iraq), Nehemiah appointed Mattaniah for this office. We know that giving thanks is an expression of faith. Yet we have no idea how much the Lord is waiting for our thanks. The Lord God reacts immediately, visibly, perceptibly and mightily when we thank Him with all our hearts, because then we prove that we believe Him. That is why lamenting over being overburdened or mistreated is sheer unbelief, for we have a source whose streams of strength never cease. I want to emphasize again that the Lord reacts immediately, and things take place in the invisible world, when we begin to give thanks in our situation. Then something “clicks” and the power of the enemy is broken. The enemy threatens, oppresses and torments us, but he is also overcome in your life when you dare to give thanks. Psalm 92:1 says, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.”