From the very moment that we say “AMEN” in prayer, to the very moment when we see a manifestation in power of what we prayed for; there is a moment or a momentum of what our expectation should be in thanksgiving.
The giving of thanks is a very crucial momentum that we should never miss out of, as we stand in the presence of God during prayer and intercession.
For everything there is always a season, moment or timing of God (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). There is a time to pray and a time to rejoice also with thanksgiving before God.
It is at this pivotal moment of thanksgiving, that God works out the things that we are seeking in prayer for us. He works it out in such a manner, for us to be fully conformed into the image of Christ as we continually give Him thanks for what He has done.
God will do anything for you, but He wants you to be conformed to the image of Christ with whatever He has worked out in your life.
A lot of times Christians are wondering why they’ve not received the answer to their prayers. He’s waiting on you to get conformed to the image of Christ in your life, so that whatever He has worked out for you may give glory and honor to Jesus.
Paul told the Galatians:
“My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) within you”,
Galatians 4:19 AMPC
Every answer to every prayer must give glory and honor to Jesus. God will never give you anything that He knows will do you harm. It’s not in His nature as a loving Father to give you an answer that He knows will do you harm.
But He has to work in your life first, until you are completely and permanently molded into the image and purpose of Christ, so that you’ll be ready to receive from Him.
That’s why the giving of thanks has to be a continuous spiritual exercise until you receive the answer to your prayer.
The scripture says:
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”
Hebrews 13:15 NIV
Thanksgiving in the presence of the Almighty God as we are praying, works in our lives to conform us to be like Jesus; until the fullness of time comes for the manifestation of our answer in prayer.
Thanksgiving therefore becomes our sacrifice of praise or the fruit of our lips that openly profess Him as our Lord and Savior. It has nothing to do with our feelings or postures before God. But it has everything to do with who He is to us with the finished works of Christ Jesus.
The sacrifice of the desires of the flesh in your life (1 Corinthians 9:27), positions you for the blessing in His presence. A Christian who is not prepared to crucify the desires of the flesh in his life is unwilling to be conformed to the image of Christ.
Apostle Paul says again:
“For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Galatians 2:19-21 NKJV
A child of God who is giving thanks to Him does not allow the fleshy desires of this world to get in his way. He will give thanks anyway in spite of every situation, circumstances or worldviews.
Thanksgiving is a spiritual exercise that can only be done by faith in Jesus Christ alone. You will notice that Paul made us to realize that, if our righteousness is based on our observance of Christian traditions or laws of men, then Christ’s crucifixion is in vain, because we will be putting those things above Christ.
This is why many people are not able to give thanks to God in every circumstance of their lives. They can’t praise and worship God alone if the music is not playing. Their giving of thanks has to be prompted or pumped up by others around them (even through praise and worship musicals).
It is therefore not a spontaneous spiritual exercise to them which requires faith. For thanksgiving to be acceptable before God, it must be by faith in Jesus Christ alone and it must come from the heart.
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”.
Romans 10:9 NKJV
It is from the same heart with which you believe that God raised Christ from the dead, that thanksgiving springs from with praises and the worship of God. It has nothing to do with your Church traditions or the rules and regulations of men.
It is a spiritual exercise by faith in Christ Jesus, which flows unhindered by anything towards God. We must therefore never miss out of every opportunity to give thanks to God.
The giving of thanks based on the written codes or traditions of men (the law) is predictable, but the giving of thanks by the law of faith in Christ Jesus which works by love is unpredictable and unfathomable. Whatever is unpredictable or unfathomable is from God, and comes with His goodness towards you, because you should:
“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!”
Ephesians 3:20-21 TPT
Thanksgiving is therefore our celebration of a new dawn or a new season of our lives in His presence. It is an affirmation that our present positions in life, is not an indication of our future potential in Christ Jesus.
Thanksgiving therefore helps us to put behind us what is seen before the world. It helps us to lay hold and prepares us for what is unseen to the world around us, but which is seen in the realm of the spirit to us.
Paul wrote:
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
As we continue to give thanks, what is unseen, and eternal is brought out into the open in our lives.
Behind every moment or momentum to give thanks is God’s plan for our lives. Never let go of that moment without praising Him and worshiping Him, irrespective of what you feel or what the circumstances of life may have brought across your way.
As we give Him thanks, we are expected to:
“… let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].”
Colossians 3:15 AMPC
It is the peace of God that helps us and guides us, in maintaining that momentum of praise with thanksgiving, even in the midst of the worst scenario of life.
The peace of God becomes the anchor of our soul as we continue to thank Him. We find safety in the midst of trouble, as that peace holds us up. We are bolder and stronger in the face of opposition, as His peace saturates our soul with thanksgiving.
Yes, you can have peace in the midst of trouble as you are praising Him. That is why James commanded us:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,”
James 1:2 NKJV
The Holy Spirit takes us into a place of rest and secured peace with God about the very things, that we are praying for as we thank Him (see Isaiah 28:10-12). All that we need as believers is the peace with God.
Though you may not audibly hear His voice as you stand in His presence; but you will always have an inner witness within you as you give Him thanks about His goodness in your life.
His peace will guide your heart to know that all will be just okay. And that is all you need to know from Him.
So, as you continue to pray and intercede before Him, open your heart up into thanksgiving. Your moment of breakthrough is closer than you had ever thought.
So therefore,
CONTINUE TO GIVE HIM THANKS WITHOUT CEASING (Ephesians 5:20).
