5-Day Devotional - Day Four

Any Way You Slice It… Be Thankful: Part One Pastor Paul Stieb Day 4: Advance Gratitude Devotional Real faith isn't just believing God can do something. It's acting like He already has. When we thank God in advance for what He's promised, we're putting our faith into action in the most powerful way possible. Think about a time when someone you trusted made you a promise. Maybe a parent promised you something special for your birthday, or a friend committed to help you move. Once you believed their word, you probably stopped asking about it repeatedly. You started planning around it, talking about it with excitement, and acting as if it was already done. That's exactly how we should respond to God's promises. When God says He'll provide, heal, restore, or work things out for our good, we can start thanking Him instead of continuing to beg Him for what He's already committed to do. This kind of advance gratitude isn't presumption; it's faith. It's declaring that God's Word is more reliable than our current circumstances. It's choosing to believe that what God has spoken will come to pass, even when we can't see how or when. Jesus modeled this perfectly. Before multiplying the loaves and fish, He gave thanks. Before raising Lazarus from the dead, He thanked the Father. He didn't wait to see the miracle before expressing gratitude. His gratitude was part of releasing the miracle. When we thank God in advance, we're aligning our hearts with His will and creating space for His power to work. We're moving from a posture of doubt to a position of faith. We’re moving from begging to believing. Bible Verse “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” –Philippians 4:6 Reflection Question What promise from God are you still begging Him for instead of thanking Him for? How would your prayers change if you started expressing advance gratitude? Quote “Start thanking God before you see the promise come to pass.” Prayer Father, I choose to thank You now for the promises You've made to me. Help me to act in faith, believing Your Word is more certain than my current situation. Increase my faith to praise You before I see the breakthrough. In Jesus’s name, amen.