“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6, emphasis mine).
 
Previously, we reviewed the powerful prayer principle the Lord Jesus taught His early disciples (Mark 11:24). It’s the principle of believing that you receive when you pray, rather than waiting to believe after seeing results. In other words, the principle avers that in order to see results you must first believe. Sadly, many saints want to start believing after they see results. That’s not how faith works! That would be walking by sight rather than by faith (see 2 Corinthians 5:7).
 
Now, one of the best ways of demonstrating that you believe you receive is THANKSGIVING. How does this work? Say you have a need and you present it to God in prayer. Good. Next, start thanking God for answering your prayer. Praise Him for supplying your need. Don’t adopt a wait-and-see attitude. That’s not faith.
 
Someone may think thanking God in advance is tantamount to lying. No, it’s not. Why? Because whenever you pray according to God’s will, He responds immediately. Remember God is spirit. He is also omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. He has no limits of ability, opportunity, time, space or love for us. He is swift to hear. So as soon as you pray in faith, God sets things into motion. In the spirit your answer is dispatched. Angels get to work on your behalf (see Hebrews 1:14, Daniel 9:23).
 
Of course, sometimes the physical or visible manifestation may take a while. But that doesn’t mean nothing is happening in the spirit realm. Observe also that our visible reality is far less than the invisible reality. Even in the natural, there are innumerable things going on around us which are invisible to the naked eye, but which are not any less real. For instance, every moment we are breathing in and out air that we don’t see. Our mobile phones use invisible airwaves to help us communicate near and far with our loved ones, friends, and work associates. So it is in the spirit. I rest my case.
 
I therefore urge you today to start thanking God for answering all your prayers since the beginning of this year. You may have been praying and fasting. Great. Now praise God for coming through for you. Thank Him for supplying your need according to His riches in glory. Don’t be anxious, but grateful. Don’t worry, but worship. Don’t complain. Just thank God. You’ll be glad you did. Pastor Josh
 
Josh Chigorimbo