The General Overseer of Chapel of Freedom International Churches, Lokoja, Bishop John Ibenu, has admonished Christians to imbibe the culture of appreciating God for what they have, instead of brooding over what they do not have.
Bishop Ibenu stated this during the annual thanksgiving service of the church in Lokoja on Sunday.
He urged members to review all that God has done for them since the beginning of the year and give Him thanks, while looking unto God for a better 2025.
“We all give thanks to God for the gift of life. Two, we are thankful for our country, Nigeria, for the peace we enjoy. Nobody should take this peace for granted. When you see what happened in other nations, people are running up and down. The stability we have is from God, and is of God. Even those who don’t believe there is God should know there is a hand, beyond the human hand, that is keeping Nigeria.
“We are thankful to God for the peace and stability we have in Nigeria. We are thankful to God for the peace and stability we have in Kogi state and we pray that God will give us greater peace, stability, unity and greater sense of value. Let us value what we can do to make Nigeria better and Kogi state better.
“I want us to continue to pray for peace in our environment, Kogi State and Nigeria. Also, that God will change things for the better for us.
“On this thanksgiving day, being alive from January to December is enough to say God we thank you. From the Governor to the least person, for the rest of this year, let us thank God for all He has done for us. Nobody can have everything they want, be thankful for what you have. Count your blessings, name them one by one, you will discover there more that God has done for you than what you have not seen. So, let us be thankful for everything – for the government, for your family, for the society, and to God who is giving us peace, stability, tranquility and freedom of worship.
“And let us look unto God for a better 2025. 2025 of grace, of divine intervention, of a better life. Let us look up to God, He will help us, for with God, all things are possible,” he admonished.
Bishop Ibenu stressed that thanksgiving is a sure route to multiply one’s blessings.
The chairman, planning committee of the Thanksgiving Service, Rev. Dr. John Achegbulu, said they were all here to express gratitude to the almighty God, the omnipotent and omnipresent God for his manifold blessings and care.
According to him, there is no amount of money or other gifts that will be enough for God’s loving care for Christians.
Dr Achegbulu advised people not to regard the occasion as a common event but as a spiritual reality that can bring substantial blessing to Christians.
He prayed that everyone who participated in this year’s thanksgiving will celebrate that of twenty twenty five and many years ahead.
