From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A cleric, Rev. Theophilus Ajala, on Sunday, urged Nigerians to have hearts of gratitude to God to unlock His deliverance and blessings in their lives.
Ajala, the reverend in-charge of First Baptist Church, Lokoja, said this during a Thanksgiving Service of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kogi Chapter at the Church as part of celebration of its Press Week.
Our Correspondent recalls that the NUJ Press Week programme began on Friday with Juma’at Prayers at the Central Mosque, Lokoja.
The NUJ thanksgiving service, however, coincided with the Church’s Choir Service of Songs and Thanksgiving.
The cleric commended journalists for such a wise decision to give thanks to God for His faithfulness over their lives, adding that “such thanksgiving offering touches God to do more for His children.
“It is glaring and well known to all that times are hard in Nigeria but until we begin to appreciate God for what He has done in our lives, no blessing will come.
“Therefore, Nigerians must learn to give thanks to God for everything even for what we are expecting Him to do for us in the future.
“It is only then that we can attract His deliverance and blessings upon our lives and our nation, ” he said.
Ajala said Nigerians should, in the midst of hardship or trouble, raise voices of praises to God, Who has the power to deliver us from the present economic hardship as a nation.
According to him, Paul and Silas, as the Holy Bible recorded, praised God while in chains in prison and God showed up and delivered them as He did for King Jahoshaphat and the children of Israel in 2 Chronicles chapter 20; verse 22.
The reverend prayed for journalists and the union to succeed in all their endeavours.
Earlier, the Union Treasurer, Mr Adewale Aka, had told the congregation that the union had chosen First Baptist Church as venue for its 2023 thanksgiving and appreciated the church for opening their doors to them.
Aka said: “Indeed God has been faithful to us as journalists given the sensitivity and dangers of our job.”