"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;" Phillipians 4:6
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Most of us are thankful AFTER God has answered our prayers. Yet the Bible says, give Him thanks BEFORE He even answers it (Psalm 100:4). Strange as it may seem, we'll find in the Word that this is what Jesus Himself did.
In John 6 (esp. verses 5-13), it's the recorded miracle of the feeding of the 5000. In verse 9, the disciples presented Jesus with a young lad's meal of 5 loaves and 2 small fish. Andrew asks "But what are they among so many?". In other words, they were asking Jesus "What can You do with so little?". It just didn't make clear sense when supply didn't meet the demand. However, Jesus didn't reply that question and just instructed the people to be seated. And then...
"... Jesus took the loaves and when He had given thanks He distributed them..." John 6:11
When we are able to let go of our own inadequacies, our own insufficiencies and offer it to Jesus, giving thanks to the Father for the little that we have; we position ourselves for miracles. The Lord is able to multiply our little "fish", our little faith, our little anointing and make up for what we lack. We serve an AWESOME wonder working God! So in everything GIVE THANKS and begin to "call those things which do not exist as though they did" (Romans 4:17b). Now stand back to receive your miracle!
Note: It takes FAITH to thank God and it is faith that pleases Him (Hebrews 11:6).
