“Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive fails and the fields produce no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will choose to rejoice in the Lord; I will choose to shout in exultation in the victorious God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18
At every point in life, there is always some blessings we are trusting God for. It could be dreams and goals that God has placed in our hearts. It could be things we believe for, and situations we pray to change.
The thing is; there is often a time lag between when we pray and when we see it come true. At this point, many people become discouraged and give up. They start believing their negative thoughts. “That is never going to happen.” It’s taking way too long.”
But know that your prayers, dreams, hopes, and desires are all like seeds. You’d agree that you don’t get to harvest fruit from a seed the same day it’s planted. You could, however, water it.
One way to water that seed is to express your gratitude to God in advance for the blessings. Maybe you’re having health problems. The medical report does not appear to be promising. Yet you’re hoping for divine intervention. Don’t moan and groan about your health.Instead say, “Thank you, Father, for keeping me, healthy. Thank you for healing me through the sacrifice of Jesus. Thank you for blessing me with good health and long life.
Perhaps you are experiencing financial difficulties. The economy is weak. Instead of murmuring and getting worried, you can raise your voice and say, “Father, thank you that everything I touch prospers and succeeds. Thank you for assisting me in getting out of debt. Thank you for enveloping me in your favor.”
When you thank God in advance for the blessing, you not only water the seed but also strengthen your own faith.
Praise to God restores your strength. Worry and complaining, on the other hand, sap your strength. Don’t be discouraged if things don’t go as planned. Complaining will not help you keep your faith. You won’t be able to stay motivated if you keep complaining about how bad things are.
Instead of complaining, switch to praising. “Business may be slow, but Lord, I thank you for prospering me even in the wilderness.” “The people that fight against me may be mighty, but Lord, I thank you for being The Almighty.”
Praise is a weapon. Praise strengthens you. Praise keeps you moving forward.
Too frequently, we think “I’ll give God praise after the problem is solved,” . “I’ll thank God when things begin to improve and I see the answer.”
No, if you don’t learn to thank God in advance, you won’t have the strength to wait for the blessing. What keeps us going is getting up every morning and saying, “Father, thank you for making my dreams come true. Thank you for your help in resolving this issue. Thank you for being stronger than this challenge “.
When you praise God, he gives you the strength to believe that what he has promised will come to pass. Negative thoughts will come to us throughout the day, to try to convince us to abandon our dreams.
Here’s a hint: Every time you are tempted to worry, remind yourself to thank God that the solution is on the way. Instead of worrying when some thought occurs, turn it around. When the enemy places some fearful thoughts in your mind and say “You’re never going to get well”
Don’t give in to that thought,instead say, “Thank you, Father, for restoring my health.”
The enemy whispers to your mind, “You’ve made far too many mistakes. God will never help you. There is no bright future for you “. Turn it around. Say, “Father, thank you that your grace is greater than any mistake I’ve made. Thank you for reassuring me that my best days are
still ahead of me “.You gain strength by doing so. Your faith will start to grow. Remember what faith is,
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrew 11:1
Thanking God in advance is a sign of faith. Faith pleases God. Faith makes you to access the blessing of God. Thank God for the blessing long before you see it. When you give God praise, God gives you strength to keep believing.
God loves to keep his promise, but he is looking for people who will thank him in advance before things change.
Once you pray and ask God to bless you, to heal you, or to restore a relationship, you don’t need to ask God again. He heard you for the first time. Every time you think about it, just begin to thank God that an answer is on the way.
The first time you prayed to God, he started the miracle. The solution is already on its way. The victory is already on its way. You already have the right person in your future. Success is already in sight.
Once you’ve already prayed about it. Change your request to praise. Begin thanking God that your blessing is around. Begin thanking him in advance for the healing, restoration, promotion, and fulfilment of your dreams.
As you do, you’ll find a new strength well up on your inside and that’s not surprising because God’s word says in Nehemiah 8:10, “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Right now, begin to thank God in advance for the blessings you expect.
N/B: Every year at Living Love Global Ministries, we begin the year with 5 days of praise. It’s called 5 days of Hosanna Praise. This year Hossana Praise is holding from 16th-20th January 2024. Venue: Camp of Testimonies and Love, Eluagu-Obukpa. Time: 5pm. JESUS IS LORD!