I had been trusting in many of God's promises for healing, renewed youth, wisdom, success in life, financial prosperity, victory over sin, peace, a Christian spouse, confidence, great faith in God's word, correct eating habits, power to heal the sick, power to successfully witness to the lost as well as a myriad of other things, but the manifestation of the promises of God coming to pass in my life seemed very slow, very slow indeed.
One day I asked God what would be the most holy, rational and quickest way to see God's promises come to pass in my life. In other words, what was the quickest way to get rid of the doubt and unbelief in my heart so God's promises would manifest and become a reality in my life. I believe He gave me the answer.
The Lord had me read Merlin Carother's book Prison to Praise. In this anointed book I learned from Romans 8:28 and Ephesians 5:20 that through thanking and praising God for both good and bad things in our lives we release the power and ability of God to change and perfect (Psalm 138: 8) those things in our lives for the better, including getting rid of doubt and unbelief.
It may sound stupid, even blasphemous for you to thank God for the bad things (sickness, fear, poverty, bondage to sin etc.) that happens in your life, but God is sovereign and nothing happens in your life without He gives the okay . So why does He allow bad things in your life? He loves you and has a purpose for your life and He allows good and seemingly bad things in your life to help fulfill His will for your glorious destiny. He tells you in 3 John 2 He wants you to "prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
Again, I emphasize that when you thank and praise God for both good and bad things then His power is released to perfect those things in your life. Here is a testimony I will share with you to help you understand how this works:
A very disturbed soldier came to Merlin Carothers when Merlin was still a chaplain in the Army. Crying, the soldier said his wife wanted to divorce him. Chaplain Carothers had the soldier kneel with him in prayer and thank God his wife wanted to divorce him. Shortly afterwards, the soldier got a phone call from his wife and she apologized and said she was not going to divorce him. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to transform the worst situations into something beautiful.
Here is a testimony of my own. One day after learning about the power of thanking and praising God for both the good and bad things in my life, my computer would not connect with the internet and my printer would not work. Instead of grumbling and complaining (God hates grumbling and complaining), I lifted my hands and thanked God that my computer would not connect to the internet and that my printer would not work. What happened? My computer connected to the internet and my printer started spitting out copies it would not print before. God specializes in miracles.
So start thanking and praising the Lord for both the good and bad things in your life. God is faithful and He will begin immediately to release His power and ability in your life to perfect those areas in your life that need perfecting. God bless you as you refuse to grumble and complain, but give praise and thanksgiving to a loving and faithful God.
Click on Philip's Books below to see if you are interested in reading Merlin Carother's book Prison to Praise.
