Always Be Thankful—A Thanksgiving Day Book Review

Here in America, today is Thanksgiving Day.  It’s certainly a good start, but I believe every day should be Thanksgiving Day.  Paul put it this way: Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (I Th. 5:16-18 The Living Bible).

If anyone can teach you how to be thankful all the time, it’s Merlin Carothers (1924-2013). Merlin is with the Lord, but his books are still available.

I became a believer in 1971 after seeing a number of undeniable miracles.  My mother had a group of Jesus People living in her house, and her friends and neighbors were getting healed in the meetings those Jesus People held.  I’ve lived a life filled with miracles ever since, and I owe a number of the miracles I’ve seen to the teachings of Merlin Carothers. God told Merlin this: “I want you to tell everyone who will listen to be thankful for every detail of their lives, and I will open the windows of heaven and pour out more blessings than they can ever ask or hope for” (Power In Praise, p. 43).

Back in 1976 Merlin Carothers’ book sales set a record when he was the first author to have three books simultaneously listed on the National Christian Bookseller Association’s top ten bestsellers list.  His books have been translated into 59 languages and have sold over 19 million copies. I suggest starting with his first two books, Prison to Praise and Power in Praise: How the Spiritual Dynamic of Praise Revolutionizes Lives. As Foundation Of Praise points out, “His unique concept of praising in all things brings results that can only be termed miraculous.”

Prison to Praise is Merlin Carothers’ autobiography and his personal testimony about the life-changing power of gratitude. Merlin Carothers was already a convicted felon when he served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne during three major campaigns of World War II and then as a guard to General Eisenhower.  Throughout his time in Europe, his extracurricular activities involved gambling, black marketeering, and “a considerable amount of drinking.” His combat record, however, was excellent, and he received a presidential pardon signed by President Truman. He became a Christian shortly after returning home from Europe, attended college and seminary and became a Methodist pastor before volunteering for the U.S. Army chaplaincy where he served as a Lt. Colonel in Korea, the Dominican Republic conflict, and in Vietnam.

Power in Praise builds on the foundation laid in Prison to Praise and is filled with real-life stories, practical advice and biblical teachings to help you harness the power of praise in your own life.

You owe it to yourself to read these books, and I hope they prove to be as much of a blessing to you as they are to me.

Margot Armer