Thanksgiving Countdown ChallengeT(hanksgiving) -15 Devotion
Give Thanks? He Hasn’t Done Anything Yet!
Jesus’ friend Lazarus had been sick and Jesus arrived to late to prevent Lazarus from dying. Lazarus’ sisters were upset. They just knew Jesus could have saved their brother if only He had arrived in time. Now it was too late. Jesus, however knew it wasn’t too late and He began to pray aloud.
Jesus knew His Father would answer His prayers. Jesus didn’t even need to say the words for His prayers to be answered. Jesus wanted all the people outside the tomb where Lazarus lay to hear exactly what He was asking His Father to do. And, as Jesus knew, His Father heard Him and raised Lazarus from the dead.
I want you to notice that Jesus gave thanks even before His Father had answered His prayers. Jesus was so certain His Father would do as He asked that He immediately thanked Him.
We don’t need to wait until God does exactly as we ask. Perhaps we should begin thanking Him even before our prayers have been answered, having faith, like Jesus, that our Father is listening and willing to answer our prayers.