“'One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.” |
|
Not subscribed? Let me guess, First name / my friend sent you this Good Letter and now you want more? Then join #TheGoodPeople list today! SUBSCRIBE HERE! |
|
Dear First name / Friend, Good morning! How are you? I hope you've had a fantastic week? And if it hasn't been amazing, I pray that God will keep you and give you the respite you need this weekend. You'll remember that last week I mentioned that I’ll send you a letter today and another next week. So, by the grace of God, I’m sticking to my word. I had initially wanted to share this letter with you last month, but it had been incredibly busy at work, and I used any “free time” I had to catch up on sleep and unwind [read: watch Nollywood movies]. Last month I thought I would write to you about encouraging others, but I felt deeply in my heart that God wanted me to write to you about thankfulness and gratitude. When I consider the year I’ve had (not pandemic related), I have to thank God for His goodness and for the people He has placed in my life… Because if I start to talk, eh! this letter will become a book. 🤗 |
|
One out of Ten First name / Friend, have you ever found yourself having recurring conversations with different people at different times? It happens to me often, and when it does, I choose to believe that God is telling me something important. For the past few months, I’ve spoken to my nearest and dearest about the things I’ve been going through, and time and time again, we’d conclude that I have much to thank God for. Having these conversations, the story of the ten lepers has continually popped up in my mind. So if you’re not familiar with the story, here it goes: Jesus and his disciples were heading to Jerusalem, and they reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. Something to note is that the Jews and Samaritans didn’t get along at all, so much so that Jewish people would take a longer route to reach Jerusalem than pass through Samaria (which was the quickest route). Anyway, as they continued their journey, Jesus and the crew arrived at a village where ten men with leprosy stood at a far distance (as per customs, religious law and health reasons which essentially forced them to live outside of the village, away from others). When these men SAW Jesus, they CRIED out to Him, pleading for mercy (to be healed). Jesus looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” By giving this instruction, Jesus was saying that they had been healed and should perform the rituals mentioned in Leviticus when a leper was healed. The temple would have been in the village, and remember, their ailment did not allow them to enter it; by listening to Jesus, they accepted that they were healed. So as they started on their way to the temple, they were cleansed. One of the ten men saw that he was healed and ran back to Jesus, SHOUTING praises to God, falling to the ground to worship Jesus. This man was a Samaritan. “Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”’ |
|
We've Been The Nine I’ve read this passage a few times recently, and I keep coming up with new questions to ask God: - Did the nine not believe they were healed?
- Did they not hear the one leper shouting praises to Jesus?
- Did they not see the one leper running back to Jesus?
- Although they were all healed, what did Jesus mean by “Your faith has healed you?”
I’m still asking questions and waiting for answers, but for the first question I can answer - no, they trusted Jesus’ instruction, they were healed instantly. For question four, the “additional” healing the leper received was salvation - far better than physical healing. As for questions two and three and the other ones roaming in my mind, I can’t tell you what happened that day, except that only one person came back to say thank you. What have you cried to God about? What have you asked Him to help you with? Have you experienced your answered prayer, and have you said thank you? Even if your prayer hasn’t been answered yet, do you have a thankful heart? |
|
With A Thankful Heart When I was growing up, my parents corrected and taught us to greet people the “Nigerian way”. They would correct us each time we never said thank you, please or said “huh” instead of “excuse me please”. We were taught and corrected till these things became natural to us. A habit was cultivated, and it became a part of our character; in the same way, we must develop a sincere habit of thanking God for everything. Thanking God in the good times makes sense, but thanking God in the painful times can be difficult, but it’s in these times that our thankfulness matters most. Thanking God in such moments (genuinely) means that we’ve chosen to see beyond what we’re going through. A thankful heart doesn’t mean we pretend that we’re not experiencing pain, a grateful heart instead is full of hope and faith, believing that God knows what He is doing. A thankful heart enjoys true peace. A thankful heart makes room for God. So, First name / Friend as you trust Jesus on the journey He has you on, let your faith inspire praise; let your faithful praise cause your feet to quicken to enter His presence. Where He is, is where everything makes sense, even when it doesn’t make sense. First name / Friend, if you forget everything I’ve written, remember this - Thankfulness is God’s “love language”. 🙏 |
|
Ten out of Ten In light of everything I’ve written, I want to say a MASSIVE thank you to you, First name / Friend. Thank you for reading these letters; you don’t know how much your support encourages me to keep going. There's so much I haven't thanked God for, but He is so faithful in reminding me of what He has done. One thing He has reminded me of is to thank Him for you. It’s not by chance that you’re my #GoodPeople because everything God does is on purpose. Let's Say "Thank You, LORD" Together Dearest First name / Friend, you don’t have to wait for something significant to happen before being thankful. The small, seemingly insignificant moments are great opportunities to nurture a grateful heart, so let us start today. Our Good God. Faithful Friend and Beautiful Father, Thank You for today. I’m awake - Thank You. I’m reading this letter - Thank You. It’s not by my strength that I do anything; I can’t make myself wake up unless You wake me. My plans don’t happen unless You allow them. Thank You, LORD. I move without thinking, talk without thinking (LOL), do so much without a second thought, and yet, it’s only by Your power, so Thank You. Thank You for the big moments, the small moments, the pains and the triumphs. Thank You for ensuring that no experience is wasted; Everything You permit is for my good and Your glory (teach me to accept this even in the tough times). Thank You for calling me Yours. Thank You for Jesus and what He has done for me. Thank You for Your love that keeps on giving. Remind me to always be thankful. In Jesus’ outstanding name, and with deep gratitude I say, Amen. |
|
Signed, A Thankful Writer, |
|
P.S. Forward this letter to those you're thankful for! Let's get the thankful movement going. ⏩ |
|
NOTICE: Affiliate links might be included in this Good Letter. This means if you click on the link(s) and take action/make a purchase I'll receive a commission. |
|
Registered company 12376045, Copyright © 2020, The Word of Mouth Co. Ltd, All rights reserved. |
|
|
