Memorise: “To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly”(Esther 9:21).
Devotional Reading: Esther 9:19-32
A number of people keep diaries, especially in our modern world of today. But too often, these are filled with negative experiences of disappointments, failures, pains, grief and losses. Unfortunately, these entries act as a trap that keep them tied to their past and hinder them from moving forward to greater achievements. While it is good to keep records of one’s life, it is better to keep such that will act as an encouragement and inspiration to forge ahead in life with great zest, people that do this are candidate of blessings.
This is one of the reasons why i love this song so much – When upon life’s billow you are tempest tost, when you are discouraged thinking all is gone, count your many blessings name them one by one, it will surprise you what the Lord has done.. the chorus sings – Count your blessings, name them one by one… May the Lord help us to remember those blessings, count them, name them one by one, and thank God for them.
Haman had hatched a genocidal plot against Mordecai and all the Jews in the entire kingdom of King Ahasuerus. In a miraculous answer to prayer, God overturned his plot and he was hanged on the same gallows he had set up for Mordecai. A new decree was signed, authorizing the Jews to take vengeance on all their enemies on that same date they should have been slaughtered. It is for this reason that Mordecai wrote to encourage the Jews to keep those days as days of joyous memorials and feasting all through their generations, to serve as a testimony of God’s faithfulness, counting their blessings, thus making Mordecai candidate of blessings. Many Christians focus more on things they have lost, they never see things God has done for them, this is a recipe for murmuring and complaining which God hates.
It is a good practice for Christians to keep a record of God’s faithfulness and blessings in their lives, thank God for them thereby attracting more blessings into their lives, instead of doing that, many people easily remember those negative experiences of our lives and are often too quick to forget God’s past mercies, goodness and favors to us. This forgetfulness leads to complaining, murmuring and faithlessness when we are faced with a new challenge. If we keep a record of God’s daily goodness in our lives and refer to them often, we will be surprised at the enormous things God has doing for us. More than that, it will make us more appreciative and thankful to God. Plus, it will increase our confidence in Him to help us confront whatever present or future challenges we may face..
Therefore, I want to encourage you today to learn to keep the record of all the good things God has done for you so that you can show gratitude thereby making yourself candidate of further blessings.
I pray for you that as you depend on God with a thankful heart both in good and bad times, it will provoke God to open the heavens ajar unto you with more blessings, in Jesus name Amen.
Prayer point: My gracious father, please make me candidate of your blessings as i show gratitude for your goodness in my life in Jesus name.
Key Dose: The sweet music that provokes greater blessings, is the song of genuine thanksgiving.
Pastor James Ademuyiwa
Senior Pastor (IHPCT)
