The Bible points us to a path of praise and thanksgiving even when going through dark and difficult places, even before we see the answer to our cry and prayers for deliverance! The Bible says He is “enthroned in the praises of Israel” (extended His people) Psalm 22:3; the original Greek here means He sits down in the midst of praise – He dwells, remains, settles, and even marries into it! No wonder the Bible says, “In everything give thanks …” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. We are also told to “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise” Psalm 100:4. And in psalm 24:7-10, “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in …” We are the gatekeepers! It is up to us to open the gates and invite the King of glory into our circumstances. Jesus exemplifies this at Lazarus tomb when He gives thanks before Lazarus rises from the dead in John 11:41-42; and again when He gives thanks before the bread and fish are multiplied to feed 4,000 men besides women and children with more leftover than He had to begin with in Matthew 15:32-38! Oh yes, and then there is the example of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:23-26 while under the most excruciating circumstances sing hymns (praises) to God in the midnight hour before the prison doors were opened and the chains loosed! And in Psalm 30:4-5 we see that joy comes in the morning after singing praise (even though we may weep) in the night!
Thanks Before Receiving
-By Rose Hill
Lazarus was still in the grave and dead,
But Jesus lifted up His eyes and said,
“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me”.
He knew Lazarus from death would be free.
Let’s follow Jesus example today,
And give thanks before asking as we pray.
If we thank first before we receive,
Then He will give us faith to believe.
The miracle will come after thanksgiving,
God is pleased when our praise we are bringing.
Praise is really the most vital part,
Of the prayer of power that comes from the heart.
Yes, what the Psalmist said was really right,
It’s a good thing to give thanks even in the night.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.