For more than forty years, I have walked in fellowship with the Lord. The Bible tells us that when we were born again, we were given the measure of faith. Some people grow in their faith, continually moving to new levels, while others become stagnant and never seem to grow. Why is that? What holds them back? More importantly, could this one thing that I’m sharing with you this month be holding YOU back from going to the next level in your faith?

Hebrews 13:5 says, Let your conversation (lifestyle) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

If you know anything about our covenant with God, you know that this does not mean that you should never want anything else or have ambition to go further in life. Rather, the Holy Ghost is telling us to change the way we’re thinking! We are to look at what we do have and rejoice about it instead of always looking at what we don’t have, which leads to complaining and envying others.

Further in the same chapter, verse 15 says, By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name.

When we confess the Word of God it should always be from an attitude of thankfulness. Giving thanks is not just putting a smile on your face and acting like everything is all right. Giving thanks the Bible way comes from a heart and mind that understands that God is taking care of the situation.

If circumstances surround you right now that don’t reflect your full redemption, begin to look for seed to sow. If you’re in need of healing, the Word is FULL of seed regarding your health. Begin thanking God for His divine life that runs through your body and His awesome creative power. Then target specific areas of need with what the Word says.

Perhaps your family is not serving the Lord as they should. Begin thanking the Lord for the family He blessed you with and then boldly declare the promises of God over them. Before I surrendered my life to the Lord, my mother confessed one simple truth over me, and it turned my life completely around in a matter of weeks. She would say, “Thank You, Lord, for the man that Scott Webb is in You. Thank You for the tender heart of love that flows out to his family and all those around him.”

Do you see how that simple confession of faith was one of thanksgiving and praise? No longer would she worry or fret over me; she knew that God was taking care of the situation, and nobody could convince her otherwise. 

If you’re short on the finances you need, find some seed to sow. When Phyllis and I began learning how to walk by faith, there were many times that Phyllis would place pennies and nickels in an envelope and mail it to Kenneth Copeland Ministries to sow seed. Monetarily, the stamp was more valuable than the coins she placed in the envelope, but that did not stop her. The coins she sent took on LIFE when they became seed, and it produced great harvest for us. This very act of faith caused her to change her thinking—no longer was she looking at what she didn’t have, she was thankful for the seed she did have and the harvest that would follow.

The spirit of New Testament and Pentecost is the spirit of thankfulness. Some of the older Pentecostals suffered much persecution, criticized by everyone in town, yet they walked with joy and peace BECAUSE THEY WERE THANKFUL. Being thankful affects the way you think and will put every situation in proper perspective.

I Timothy 6:12 tells us to fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

The fight of faith is the ONLY fight we are instructed to fight, and the very fact that it’s called a fight lets us know that there will be some resistance. The enemy will exert effort to take faith out of you by diverting your attention with the problem. Recognize that ultimately, he is after your mouth, but he begins with your thinking. On the other hand, God can use your tongue to bless everything you’re involved in, and it’s the attitude of thanksgiving that will keep your mouth and heart connected to Him at all times.

As you approach the end of this year with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, remember that this attitude and spirit of thankfulness will keep your mind in its proper place. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, recognize the significance of what you do have. You have all the seed you could ever need in the Word of God to produce the very harvest that your heart desires.

Phyllis and I stand with you for the most joyous Thanksgiving holiday you have ever had.

We are so thankful for each and every one of our partners who help to send us where the Lord directs. At the end of this month and well into December, we will be ministering in several places in the nation of Brazil once again. Thank you for your faith, support, and prayers as we go!