Revelation 12:10  “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

Philemon 1:6  “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

I was very far along in my second pregnancy, living in Saint Marc, Haiti. Having had such a hard delivery with my first child, I took to walking up and down the mountain so that I would be physically fit for labor. I made these walks my prayer time.  

At that time in Haiti the ministry was growing. Many young men were surrendering their lives to serve God, scores of people were learning to win souls and would go out soul winning some daily, others weekly. Every Bible class that my husband offered was packed. Ladies met at my house every week for prayer, the men had all night prayer meetings; the Holy Spirit was moving and working.

It is no wonder that at this same time Satan was working as well. I became very depressed, very discouraged in my marriage, and my mind had fallen into a rut of negative and critical thinking, especially towards my husband. As I walked every day, I would pour my heart and complaints out to the Lord.  

One late afternoon as I climbed the mountain to pray, I took paper and a pen so that I could write out all my requests, everything my husband was or was not doing, so that I could bring them before the Lord. I sat in a chair overlooking the city and I went down that list passionately. Many tears later, and after much “praying” about everything wrong with my man, the Holy Spirit spoke so loudly in my spirit, “Why are you standing as Satan before me?” Say What?! “Why are you accusing my servant to me?” I became very still and reflective as I pondered this question. Looking back over my “prayer list,” I saw nothing but complaints, arguments, disappointments, unthankfulness, discontentment, and a whole bunch of accusations.

That day, I repented. I tore up that paper into so many tiny pieces. I committed to the Lord to take responsibility for my marriage, and I began going on a thanksgiving hunt, looking for every little thing for which I could express gratitude to my Father, specifically concerning my husband. That was a turning point in my heart. I wish I could say that after that day, I was forever changed and never fell into that rut again. But just as a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again, I too have fallen again and again over the years, but the remedy is always the same; thanksgiving and praise disperse the clouds of negativity, cause Satan to flee, and refocus our hearts and minds on all the good God has bestowed upon us.  

To prepare for His Kingdom and to live for His glory, we must set our gaze on our Father and by His Spirit learn to practice the skill, the act, the gift of thanksgiving and praise to our Heavenly Father and to those He has given us to love.