I lift up praise and thanksgiving to You, O Loving God, for the many things and blessings You’ve freely given to me. As a result, I will give You thanks no matter what is going on in my life because I live for You. My relationship with You is built upon a premise of thankfulness and I find myself thanking You for … supplying the provisions by which I live … gifting me blessings I do not deserve … showing me mercy when I repent and confess my sins … sharing Yourself and Your goodness with me … and, the fact that You love me despite my sins and failings. I mostly feel unworthy of the kindness, mercies and love that You provide. I can never say enough “thank you(s)” for all the good You do in my life … so I must try and show it by being faithful in obeying Your commands, learning from Your teachings and becoming a doer of Your Word. Usually, I give thanks after something good happens to me. However, I’m beginning to see that I should give thanks before receiving a good gift as an affirmation of my faith in You.
As a result of this insight, I want to profess my faith by expressing thankfulness for …
- Answers to prayers before they come to fruition;
- My healing before I start feeling better;
- Resolution of my conflicts before I see harmony restored;
- Relief from my pain before it is gone;
- My finances repaired before I see my situation improve;
- My kids growing up mature, responsible and safe before I see the outward signs;
- Solutions to my problems before I see them resolved;
- Favor and blessings before I reap their benefits;
- My place in Heaven even before I have to stand in front of You to be judged;
- Each day that You give me to live before I awake to a new day;
- Obstacles and difficulties settled before I see the challenges removed; and,
- Your standing with me and not giving up on me whenever I begin to waver under testing and trials.
I am so thankful for Your presence in my life because You are generous and loving to me. I know that every good gift and perfect gift comes from You and comes from a heart of love. And I have this confidence … that if I ask anything in Your will, You will hear me and I will be given the desires of my heart. Therefore, knowing You hear and respond to my faith, I can praise You and give thanks before I ever see the physical evidence of the thing I desire. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
I Thessalonians 5:18 In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.