We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving
is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction. Harry A. Ironside.
The sweetest blessing are those that are won with
prayer and worn with thanks. Thanksgiving is simply an act of faith whether the
situation has changed or not, when we acknowledge our faith in Him through a
thankful attitude, even though circumstances suggest otherwise, God releases His
miraculous power and intervention on our behalf. He often turns tragedy to triumph, discord to
harmony, and defeat to victory. When we thank God in advance for our needs, we
are abiding and living in the highest form of Faith in God. Thanking Him in advance tells God that we
totally trust Him to supply our needs.
Colossians 4:2 states, "Continue earnestly in prayer, being
vigilant in it with thanksgiving."
When we thank Him in advance in our prayers daily, we build an image in
our heart of the answered prayer. The greater your thanksgiving grows daily the
greater your faith will grow.
Jehoshaphat and
all of Judah learned firsthand the importance of offering thanksgiving to God
in the midst of war. Their praise to God brought God's power on the scene in
their defense, and the end result was total victory. the Lord set ambushments
against all their enemies.... and they were smitten. Jehoshaphat and all of
Judah did not have to engage in physical battle with their enemy, II Chronicles
20:17-21 The king had a very unusual way of organizing his army: his battle
plan was to put a choir before the infantry. “There’s a very important truth
here: The Israelites were thanking God in advance for the victory. Praise and
thanksgiving are verbalized faith. If you thank God after the fact, that’s gratitude. If you thank God before it
happens, that’s faith”. Rick Warren.
There is power
in expectation, we can take a clue from the scripture by organizing our battle
plan for life behind a thanksgiving choir in our life to the Lord.
