For just a Mentoring Minute, I want to talk about having a voice of thanksgiving. There will be times when we have to step out in faith with the powerful weapon of thanksgiving spilling off our lips. For me, such a time came in 1994, when I was preaching on the street in an undesirable and dangerous part of Auckland, New Zealand. As I finished, I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for those who would come to Jesus. Then, I gave the call for people to give their lives to Him. At that moment, a very large and dangerous looking man hurried rapidly toward me. My first thought was that he was coming to disrupt the service and perhaps even do me harm. Then, I began to thank God for him, not really knowing what would happen. Psalm 92: 1-2 (NKJV) says, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; {2} To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night,”
In that moment, as this huge man came toward me, I began to feel God’s compassion for him. To my surprise, as he came close to me, he began to cry and melted to his knees. I prayed with him for his redemption. As this mountain of a man, who had been turned by grace, recited his prayer of repentance, we both were consumed with thanksgiving and praise on our lips. I’m Dr. Bob. We are quick to speak about the power of the Gospel, but how quickly do we embrace it for our own when things appear to be more than we can handle? We must always believe that there is no power below, on or above the earth that is stronger than the name of Jesus. Then, this belief must define the conduct of our lives.