Praise Him in Advance!!!

John 11:41-44
41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
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Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
 
In the eleventh chapter of John, we learned that Lazarus had died and his sisters were distraught at the passing of their brother.  Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters, were also upset that Jesus had not visited their brother earlier while Lazarus was sick considering they were all best friends. They tell Jesus that if He had come earlier their brother would not have died. By the time Jesus returned, Lazarus had been dead four days.

As Jesus comforts Mary and Martha, He begins to pray to God and thank Him in advance for the miracle God will perform by raising Lazarus from the dead. Let’s look at the scripture “41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me” (NIV). Before Jesus called Lazarus named He thank God for the miracle that was about to take place.

God has been so good to us, therefore we need to thank Him for what He has done and what He is going to do.  If you are in need of a financial breakthrough, thank Him in advance for the provisions He has made and will make. If your body needs healing, thank Him in advance for the healing before the healing takes place. According to the scripture, “Nothing is too hard for God”.

Heavenly Father,
I am thanking You in advance (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  I will call things as they are (Romans 4:17). I will speak life into my situation (Proverbs 18:21). I will praise You in advance (Psalm 150).

In the magnificent name of Jesus,
Amen

© 2016 Edwina D. Perrin. All rights reserved. 

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