Thanking God Ahead of Time - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - April 9, 2024
Thanking God Ahead of Time
By Rick Warren
“I will sacrifice to you with songs of thanksgiving. I will keep my vow. Victory belongs to the LORD!” Jonah 2:9 (GW)
When you feel hopeless, it seems counterproductive to express gratitude. Why would you feel grateful when you’ve hit rock bottom?
Just ask Jonah. At the end of his prayer from the belly of the big fish, before God rescued him, he shows us how to thank God in advance for answering our prayers: “I will sacrifice to you with songs of thanksgiving. I will keep my vow. Victory belongs to the LORD!” (Jonah 2:9 GW).
What’s the difference between gratitude before and gratitude after? If I wait to thank God until after he answers my prayer, that’s gratitude. But if I thank God in advance, before he answers my prayer, that’s faith. We always want to thank God when he answers our prayers, but we show faith in God if we also do it beforehand.
How do you thank God in advance? Jonah shows us three ways:
Jonah thanked God by praising him. In Hebrews 13:15, we’re told, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (NIV).
Jonah thanked God by returning to his mission. Jonah knew he messed up. We’ve all been there, yet that doesn’t stop God’s mission for you. Jonah’s life mission remained the same. Your life mission remains the same, too, even when you mess up.
Jonah thanked God by trusting him for success. Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (NLT).
In Jonah 1, we see Jonah running from God. In Jonah 2, we see Jonah running to God and his grace. In the next chapter, we’ll see Jonah running with God.
God will never abandon you, even if you disobey his will. That’s why you can thank him even before your prayers are answered.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Equip the Graduate in Your Life for a Purpose-Filled Future!
Pastor Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life: Selected Thoughts and Scriptures for the Graduate is a beautifully designed hardcover book filled with inspiring Scripture, biblical wisdom, and stunning imagery, making it a meaningful keepsake for years to come.
This resource is only available for a limited time as our thanks for your gift below—so request your copy now.
Thank you for your partnership!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
