Thanking God first 

We are told, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” With this result: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

When we praise and thank the Lord, we enter his empowering presence. We experience the power and victory and joy he can give only to those who are close enough to receive them.

But we must praise him first. Thank God for what he will do, before he does it. A great expression of faith is to thank someone for what they will do for you, even before they have done it. To thank the surgeon before you have the operation, or the pilot before you take off.

Thank God after he has provided, but first, thank him before he does. 

Thank him for hearing you and giving you what you asked or whatever is best. 

Thank him when you pray and when you obey. 

Thank him by faith before you can thank him by sight. And you will be in a position to receive all that the perfect will of God intends.

We can be thankful in all circumstances because we know that whether good or ill befalls us, God has an ultimate plan to redeem things for his and our good if we love him (Romans 8:28). 

When did you last thank God first? 

The culture sees God as a means to your end, a provider of your needs. If he disappoints you, you owe him no gratitude. If your job is threatened or your bills are overwhelming or your family is struggling, clearly God hasn’t done his job and doesn’t deserve the reward of your worship. He has to do his job to receive his pay. If you’re mad at God, drop out of church or stop praying or reading, or trusting. It’s only fair.

The Christian worldview says that God redeems all he allows. He uses all he permits. If we thank him before he acts, our faith positions us to receive all he intends. 

We thank God because we trust him for what he will do. That kind of posture leads to peace. With our future secured in God’s hand, we can live with gratitude. 

Reflect on this truth. 

Do you trust God for the future? 

Are you thankful for the future he will give you? 

Take a moment to open your hands and trust him with what you hold most dear, and thank him for it, allowing his peace to wash over you.