“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (NKJV)
Here’s a secret for success – 1) being led by the Holy Spirit, and 2) Maintaining a heart of thankfulness.
Romans 8:14 tells us that those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. In other words, the real sons (and daughters) of Yahweh are people who are living in the Holy Spirit, conscious of His presence in their lives, and sensitive to His voice. The beautiful third person of the Trinity is God’s gift to every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the precious “paraclete”, the advocate, counselor, helper. He is our Comforter and friend, the One through whom we experience Jesus the Word, and Abba God. The more I open myself to the Holy Spirit, the more I experience Him, and the more I am able to access the heavenly mind of Christ in every area of my life. He draws from the heart of God, from the Source of all knowledge and wisdom, and He gives me the understanding I need, guiding me in the steps I take. Wherever we are in our walk with God, there is always more of the infinite Holy Spirit to know, love, and experience, and cultivating a real relationship with Him puts us on the path of success.
When you are led by God you cannot fail! How do I know that? Because Paul writes to the Corinthian church that He leads us “in triumph”. There is only one way with God, and that is the upward way! We often blame God when things are not progressing in the direction we want them to, but we can only place that responsibility upon Him when we are doing what He has called us to do, and if we have felt His leading and followed it. God in His eternal omniscience knows the end from the beginning. He has an outcome planned for us, and it is one of victory. When we trust Him, and follow His heart, this is our joyful portion!
Friend, it never fails to amaze me how God does beautiful miracles in the lives of His children – miracles of provision, healing, restoration etc – and how there appears to be no joy or gratitude in the hearts of some who are thus blessed; they never even think of testifying, or thanking Him publicly for it. So how can an attitude of gratitude help us? How can it make a difference when we are thankful? When Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, we are told that He looked up to heaven and He gave thanks. There were thousands of hungry people waiting to be fed, and He had just five small loaves and two little fishes in His hands, but I believe His thanksgiving was a part of what unleashed the “more” of God, as the food miraculously multiplied to feed more than 5000 people that day for the glory of the Lord Yahweh! It could easily be that I sometimes block my blessing by focusing on what I don’t have, or what I still need to have, instead of giving joyful thanks for what God has already released into my life. That “small” gift from God is still His kindness to us, and needs to be celebrated with true thanksgiving. This thanks is a statement from my heart, and an acknowledgement that there is no entitlement, and that everything I have is a gift from God (James 1:17). When I begin to see everything as His gift, then I begin to experience gratitude. I begin to step into another realm, a realm of trust and truth, where I acknowledge that everything I have truly comes from my Father who loves me. A heart of trust and thanksgiving releases a glorious fragrance before the Lord our King. It is the sweet incense of worship which emanates out of us into the atmosphere around us, “diffusing” a fragrance of Jesus and making Him real to those in our world. It is a fragrance which draws people to Him and how He is moving in our lives. It makes all our triumphs a success “in Christ”, (as Paul writes). Success is what our Father God has planned for you, and I declare this realm of success manifesting into your life from this day forth, in Jesus’ mighty name! Seek the heart of God and let yourself be led by the Holy Spirit. Thank God for all His goodness; there is success coming your way!
Minoli Haththotuwa, 07 August 2021
