Thank God Before The Promise

0:00:00.800 --> 0:00:03.480 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks so much for 0:00:03.560 --> 0:00:06.520 listening to the podcast. Twenty twenty four is going to 0:00:06.559 --> 0:00:09.000 be an amazing year for you and your family though 0:00:09.000 --> 0:00:11.520 that we're praying for you, so get ready, keep your 0:00:11.560 --> 0:00:12.560 expectations up. 0:00:12.680 --> 0:00:15.440 It's going to be a great year. Hope you enjoyed 0:00:15.480 --> 0:00:18.680 today's message. Oh God bless you. 0:00:18.760 --> 0:00:21.280 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:21.320 --> 0:00:23.760 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:00:23.800 --> 0:00:27.720 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, and social media, and you 0:00:27.760 --> 0:00:30.280 can come visit us in person. We'd love to have 0:00:30.400 --> 0:00:32.720 you be a part of one of our services. But 0:00:32.840 --> 0:00:35.040 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:00:35.040 --> 0:00:37.839 about this group of school children. They were in the 0:00:37.840 --> 0:00:41.360 cafeteria line at their Catholic elementary school and at the 0:00:41.360 --> 0:00:43.919 start of the line there was a big bowl of apples. 0:00:44.440 --> 0:00:47.440 A nun had written a note. It said, take only one. 0:00:47.760 --> 0:00:50.440 God is watching. At the end of the line there 0:00:50.479 --> 0:00:53.120 was a big bowl of chocolate chip cookies. One of 0:00:53.159 --> 0:00:55.680 the children had written a note. It said take all 0:00:55.720 --> 0:00:58.120 you want. God is watching the apples you. 0:01:00.240 --> 0:01:02.959 Like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am 0:01:03.040 --> 0:01:05.480 what it says, I am, I have what it says. 0:01:05.480 --> 0:01:05.760 I have. 0:01:06.280 --> 0:01:07.800 I can do what it says. 0:01:07.560 --> 0:01:10.320 I can do. Today, I will be talked the word 0:01:10.400 --> 0:01:10.839 of God. 0:01:11.280 --> 0:01:15.679 I'll boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:01:16.000 --> 0:01:19.720 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:01:19.760 --> 0:01:23.199 bless you. I want to talk to you today about 0:01:23.319 --> 0:01:25.319 thanking God before. 0:01:25.000 --> 0:01:26.039 You see the promise. 0:01:26.920 --> 0:01:30.360 We all have things we're believing for to accomplish a dream, 0:01:30.760 --> 0:01:33.680 to beat the right person, for our health to turn around. 0:01:33.720 --> 0:01:37.720 And we prayed, we believed, we stood in faith, but 0:01:37.800 --> 0:01:41.760 it hasn't happened yet. Sometimes we're so determined and we 0:01:41.800 --> 0:01:45.720 want it so badly we keep asking and asking God, 0:01:45.800 --> 0:01:49.920 You've got had turned this around. God, Please heal my child. God, 0:01:49.920 --> 0:01:50.920 I'm begging. 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:53.560 You give me this good break. But here's the key. 0:01:54.080 --> 0:01:56.920 Once you pray, you don't have to ask anymore. 0:01:57.480 --> 0:02:00.520 From then on, you need to thank God on the 0:02:00.520 --> 0:02:04.120 way instead of God, I'm dealing with this sickness. Please 0:02:04.160 --> 0:02:07.480 heal me. No, you've already prayed. Now it's Lord. I 0:02:07.560 --> 0:02:10.679 want to thank you that I'm healing instead of begging God, 0:02:10.720 --> 0:02:13.679 please get my child back on course. God, please don't 0:02:13.720 --> 0:02:16.600 let him get in trouble. Try a different approach. Lord, 0:02:16.639 --> 0:02:19.840 I thank you that my children will fulfill their destiny. 0:02:20.280 --> 0:02:22.200 Thank you that as for me and my house, we 0:02:22.240 --> 0:02:25.320 will serve the Lord. It's a different mindset. 0:02:25.840 --> 0:02:29.519 When we keep asking, again and again, pleading with God, 0:02:29.919 --> 0:02:32.640 it's like we're trying to talk him into it. Maybe 0:02:32.639 --> 0:02:35.200 he doesn't want to do it, maybe we're not good enough, 0:02:35.400 --> 0:02:38.280 maybe we don't deserve it. But when you switch over 0:02:38.400 --> 0:02:42.360 into thanking him, you're saying, God, I trust you, I 0:02:42.440 --> 0:02:45.560 know you're faithful to your word, that what you promise 0:02:45.840 --> 0:02:48.400 and purpose for my life will come to pass. 0:02:49.160 --> 0:02:52.720 Jesus said in Mark eleven. When you pray, believe that 0:02:52.800 --> 0:02:53.760 you receive. 0:02:54.080 --> 0:02:57.480 When you pray, not when it shows up, but when 0:02:57.520 --> 0:03:01.160 you pray, believe that it happened. Believe that God is 0:03:01.200 --> 0:03:04.720 so faithful that he set the miracle into motion, that 0:03:04.760 --> 0:03:08.040 in the unseen, realm angels are dispatched with. 0:03:08.080 --> 0:03:10.680 Your healing, your breakthrough, your freedom. 0:03:11.520 --> 0:03:15.000 Well, if you receive when you believe, if you already 0:03:15.040 --> 0:03:17.600 have it by faith, then you don't have to keep 0:03:17.639 --> 0:03:20.880 asking for it. You have to switch over from asking 0:03:21.200 --> 0:03:24.720 to thanking God. There was a lady in the scripture 0:03:24.919 --> 0:03:27.840 that came up to Jesus and she started begging him 0:03:28.400 --> 0:03:32.840 to heal her daughter. She said, please, Jesus, she's so bad, 0:03:33.320 --> 0:03:34.240 you have to help me. 0:03:34.560 --> 0:03:36.760 I'm begging you to come pray for her. 0:03:37.560 --> 0:03:41.920 But Jesus ignored her, didn't give her the time of day. Normally, 0:03:42.000 --> 0:03:46.320 Jesus was so compassionate. When blind Bardimaeus called out, have 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:48.400 mercy on me, Jesus. 0:03:48.000 --> 0:03:49.280 Went over and healed him. 0:03:49.760 --> 0:03:53.640 When a government official stopped, Jesus said, my little girl 0:03:53.680 --> 0:03:56.120 is so sick. Will you come to my house and 0:03:56.160 --> 0:03:59.680 pray for her. Jesus spoke the word, and his daughter 0:03:59.760 --> 0:04:03.839 was here. What was different about this woman? She kept 0:04:03.880 --> 0:04:07.600 begging and begging, trying to get Jesus to change his mind. 0:04:08.360 --> 0:04:12.480 When she realized that wasn't working, the scripture says, she 0:04:12.640 --> 0:04:16.400 fell down at Jesus' feet and began worshiping. 0:04:15.920 --> 0:04:18.920 Him, thanking him, praising him. 0:04:19.400 --> 0:04:22.960 That's when Jesus changed his mind and healed her daughter. 0:04:23.839 --> 0:04:27.840 What begging couldn't do, thanking God will do. 0:04:27.839 --> 0:04:32.920 Don't be a beggar, be a believer. When you pray, believe. 0:04:32.600 --> 0:04:35.400 That it's done, and start thanking God that is on 0:04:35.520 --> 0:04:37.920 the way. Believe that God hurt you. 0:04:38.640 --> 0:04:41.880 Believe that he's faithful, that he set the miracle into 0:04:41.920 --> 0:04:45.920 motion and believe that you deserve it, that you're worthy, 0:04:46.160 --> 0:04:49.320 that you're a child of the most time. No more 0:04:49.360 --> 0:04:52.919 begging God year after year. God, please help me to 0:04:52.920 --> 0:04:54.039 make good decisions. 0:04:54.480 --> 0:04:54.560 Now. 0:04:54.640 --> 0:04:57.080 The right approach is, Father, thank you that I have 0:04:57.200 --> 0:04:59.680 the mind of Christ. Thank You that I'm full of 0:04:59.720 --> 0:05:03.960 with that I have clear direction for my life. That's 0:05:04.000 --> 0:05:05.000 praying in faith. 0:05:05.760 --> 0:05:08.920 The scripture says, come boldly to the throne of grace. 0:05:09.560 --> 0:05:12.880 You won't go boldly if you're always begging. You won't 0:05:12.880 --> 0:05:16.440 pray with confidence. If you're asking again and again for 0:05:16.520 --> 0:05:19.039 the same thing. You need to switch out of the 0:05:19.120 --> 0:05:23.039 asking mode into the thinking mode. Paul said it this 0:05:23.080 --> 0:05:27.760 way in Philippians. Bring your request to God with thanksgiving. 0:05:28.520 --> 0:05:30.920 It's not enough to just ask. You have to add 0:05:30.960 --> 0:05:36.039 this second part thanksgiving. That's your faith being released instead 0:05:36.040 --> 0:05:38.600 of God, please help me. I don't see how I'm 0:05:38.600 --> 0:05:42.359 gonna make it financially. God, I'm begging you. That's a 0:05:42.480 --> 0:05:46.520 sincere prayer, but it's not an effective prayer. A better 0:05:46.560 --> 0:05:50.200 approach is find what God says about you in the scripture, 0:05:50.760 --> 0:05:52.680 find some promises and. 0:05:52.560 --> 0:05:54.520 Thank God for them. Father. 0:05:54.600 --> 0:05:57.919 I thank you that I will lend and not borrow. Lord, 0:05:58.000 --> 0:06:00.760 thank you that I live under the open winds of heaven, 0:06:01.040 --> 0:06:02.239 that whatever I touch. 0:06:02.120 --> 0:06:03.680 Prospers and succeeds. 0:06:03.960 --> 0:06:07.120 That no good thing will you withhold because I walk 0:06:07.200 --> 0:06:10.960 up right now. I take time every morning to start 0:06:10.960 --> 0:06:13.479 the day off in faith, pray and read my Bible. 0:06:14.200 --> 0:06:17.880 But ninety percent of my prayer time is thanking God 0:06:17.920 --> 0:06:21.320 for what he's done and thanking him for what he's promised. 0:06:22.000 --> 0:06:24.080 I don't get up every morning and say, God, please 0:06:24.120 --> 0:06:28.440 bless me, Please anoint me. God, Please keep my children 0:06:28.480 --> 0:06:32.560 from harm. God, please help us, God, let me leave 0:06:32.600 --> 0:06:35.640 my march. Give me your favor. Well, I've already asked 0:06:35.640 --> 0:06:38.920 God for those things. When I prayed, I received it 0:06:38.960 --> 0:06:42.640 by faith. I believe that God heard me. I believe 0:06:42.680 --> 0:06:46.719 that he's trustworthy, that he's working behind the scenes. So 0:06:46.800 --> 0:06:50.560 I don't keep asking again and again, week after week, 0:06:50.880 --> 0:06:51.720 year after year. 0:06:52.240 --> 0:06:53.400 I switched over. 0:06:53.440 --> 0:06:57.640 Into thanking God, Father, Thank you that I'm blessed. Thank 0:06:57.680 --> 0:07:00.440 you that You've crowned me with favor. Thank you that 0:07:00.480 --> 0:07:03.880 I'm anointed. Thank you that my children are mighty in 0:07:03.920 --> 0:07:07.559 the land. Thank you that your angels watch after us. Lord, 0:07:07.600 --> 0:07:10.480 Thank you that lake Wood is strong, that from generation 0:07:10.680 --> 0:07:14.560 to generation we will tell of your goodness. That kind 0:07:14.600 --> 0:07:18.960 of praying gets God's attention. Thanking him is your faith 0:07:19.000 --> 0:07:22.800 at work. When he hears praise is coming up, blessings 0:07:22.840 --> 0:07:26.240 will come down. That's when he'll dispatch angels and set 0:07:26.400 --> 0:07:31.200 miracles into motion. But begging God won't do this, pleading 0:07:31.280 --> 0:07:34.720 again and again for the same thing. No, turn it around. 0:07:35.360 --> 0:07:38.400 God heard you the first time you ask. Don't pray 0:07:38.480 --> 0:07:41.920 like he didn't. If you keep asking, you're saying, God, 0:07:41.960 --> 0:07:46.160 I'm not sure. Maybe nothing happened. With the right attitude, 0:07:46.160 --> 0:07:48.560 His Lord, I thank you that my healing is on 0:07:48.640 --> 0:07:51.600 the way. Thank you that the right person is in route. 0:07:51.840 --> 0:07:55.200 Thank you that it will be a bountiful year. When 0:07:55.240 --> 0:07:58.560 you're tempted to worry, thoughts come saying this never going 0:07:58.640 --> 0:08:01.080 to work out. You don't have to go back and 0:08:01.120 --> 0:08:04.640 pray again. Oh God, please let it happen. No, Father, 0:08:04.800 --> 0:08:05.480 thank you that. 0:08:05.440 --> 0:08:08.760 It's on the way. That's what keeps you encouraged. 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:12.120 When you hear yourself thanking God for what he promised, 0:08:12.640 --> 0:08:16.239 declaring his goodness and speaking victory into your future. 0:08:16.640 --> 0:08:18.040 That's what builds your faith. 0:08:18.600 --> 0:08:21.120 That's how you're going to stay strong and have the 0:08:21.320 --> 0:08:25.080 endurance to see the promise come to pass. God told 0:08:25.160 --> 0:08:27.720 Abraham and Sarah that they were going to have a baby, 0:08:28.200 --> 0:08:31.200 but they were both way too old. Sarah had already 0:08:31.240 --> 0:08:34.040 gone through the change of life. She had been barren, 0:08:34.679 --> 0:08:38.360 never able to conceive. Now Abraham was eighty years old, 0:08:38.760 --> 0:08:43.040 she was seventy. Seemed impossible. Year after year went by 0:08:43.120 --> 0:08:44.800 and they didn't see any sign. 0:08:44.640 --> 0:08:45.200 Of a child. 0:08:45.920 --> 0:08:48.880 Every day that passed it was less likely that it 0:08:48.880 --> 0:08:52.679 would happen. You can imagine the thoughts that came to Abraham. 0:08:53.040 --> 0:08:55.840 You're not going to have a baby that defies the 0:08:55.920 --> 0:08:59.280 laws of nature. God didn't tell you that you had 0:08:59.320 --> 0:09:03.800 too much pezza that night. Abraham could have gotten discouraged. God, 0:09:03.840 --> 0:09:07.240 I'm asking you again, please give us this child. We 0:09:07.320 --> 0:09:10.439 want this baby so badly. Please do what you said. 0:09:11.400 --> 0:09:15.559 The scripture says Abraham grew strong in faith by giving 0:09:15.640 --> 0:09:16.520 praise to God. 0:09:17.640 --> 0:09:21.240 I can see him at night looking up at the stars. Lord. 0:09:21.280 --> 0:09:23.280 I want to thank you for what you promised. 0:09:23.600 --> 0:09:26.599 That my descendants will be like the number of stars 0:09:26.720 --> 0:09:27.959 in the night sky. 0:09:28.040 --> 0:09:30.240 Lord, thank you that our baby is on the way. 0:09:31.240 --> 0:09:35.120 That's how he stayed strong and kept believing even when 0:09:35.120 --> 0:09:38.439 there was no sign of it. He was constantly thanking 0:09:38.480 --> 0:09:42.319 God for what he promised. You're not gonna stay strong 0:09:42.440 --> 0:09:47.440 by begging, by asking again and again, by worrying, complaining, God, 0:09:47.480 --> 0:09:48.160 where are you? 0:09:48.640 --> 0:09:51.600 God? Why isn't this working out? You're gonna grow strong 0:09:52.000 --> 0:09:56.280 by thanking God that is on the way. Like Abraham, 0:09:56.720 --> 0:09:58.480 you may not see any sign of what. 0:09:58.400 --> 0:10:03.400 God promised you could live worried, stressed, doubting. Try a 0:10:03.400 --> 0:10:07.280 different approach every time those thoughts tell you that you'll 0:10:07.320 --> 0:10:11.559 never get well, never break that addiction, never see your 0:10:11.600 --> 0:10:14.920 family restored. It's been too long. Come on, it would 0:10:14.960 --> 0:10:18.920 have happened by now. Turn that worry into worship. Father, 0:10:19.120 --> 0:10:21.680 Thank you that what you started in my life you 0:10:21.720 --> 0:10:24.600 will finish. Thank you that your plans for me are 0:10:24.600 --> 0:10:27.040 for good, that my latter days. 0:10:26.760 --> 0:10:28.520 Will be better than my former days. 0:10:29.080 --> 0:10:32.040 Lord, Thank you that you've already taken care of what 0:10:32.080 --> 0:10:36.360 I'm concerned about. That the moment I prayed, things shifted 0:10:36.480 --> 0:10:39.400 in my favor. That what you purpose for my life 0:10:39.559 --> 0:10:44.000 will come to pass. That's how Abraham stayed strong in faith. 0:10:44.480 --> 0:10:48.280 He thanked God before he ever saw the promise. Then, 0:10:48.320 --> 0:10:50.960 of course, when Sarah was ninety years old, all the 0:10:50.960 --> 0:10:53.880 odds against her she gave birth to a son that 0:10:53.960 --> 0:10:57.400 they named Isaac. And I don't believe this would have happened. 0:10:57.520 --> 0:11:02.319 If Abraham would have kept begging, ask pleading, not only 0:11:02.400 --> 0:11:04.679 would he have gotten discouraged and given up. 0:11:05.280 --> 0:11:07.040 But God works where there's faith. 0:11:07.840 --> 0:11:10.480 When he hears you thanking him for something you can't 0:11:10.520 --> 0:11:14.000 see and praising him for a promise when you could 0:11:14.080 --> 0:11:17.320 be complaining, talking like it's on the way, when you 0:11:17.360 --> 0:11:18.839 could be defeated. 0:11:18.880 --> 0:11:20.160 That gets God's attention. 0:11:20.679 --> 0:11:23.800 That's when he'll make things happen that you couldn't make happen. 0:11:24.800 --> 0:11:27.760 When our son Jonathan was sixteen years old, he got 0:11:27.760 --> 0:11:31.040 his driver's license and we went down to the dealership 0:11:31.080 --> 0:11:32.480 and bought him a used car. 0:11:33.000 --> 0:11:34.160 He was so excited. 0:11:34.760 --> 0:11:37.800 Our daughter, Alexandra, is three years younger than him. She 0:11:37.960 --> 0:11:41.559 was thirteen when we got home and she saw that car. 0:11:42.080 --> 0:11:44.199 She came straight over to me and. 0:11:44.200 --> 0:11:46.599 Said, Dad, when I turned sixteen. 0:11:46.280 --> 0:11:48.640 Are you going to get me a car? She wanted 0:11:48.679 --> 0:11:50.199 to get that on record right away. 0:11:50.559 --> 0:11:51.640 She didn't waste any time. 0:11:51.960 --> 0:11:54.480 I said, yes, Alexandra, I'm going to get you a car. 0:11:55.120 --> 0:11:57.559 She said, you promise. I said, I promise. 0:11:58.360 --> 0:11:58.760 Do you know? 0:11:58.840 --> 0:12:01.840 For the next three years She never asked me for 0:12:01.920 --> 0:12:05.640 that car again. Once I gave her my word, she 0:12:05.840 --> 0:12:08.839 was fully convinced. She knew, beyond a shadow of a 0:12:08.920 --> 0:12:12.160 doubt that I wouldn't promise her something and then not 0:12:12.320 --> 0:12:15.800 do it. All she did for those three years was 0:12:15.840 --> 0:12:17.800 thank me for the car that was on the way. 0:12:18.440 --> 0:12:21.040 Daddy, I can't wait. Thank you so much for getting 0:12:21.080 --> 0:12:22.520 me that car. What kind are we going to get? 0:12:22.760 --> 0:12:24.559 What caller model? What size? 0:12:25.600 --> 0:12:28.560 That made me feel good as a father to know 0:12:28.679 --> 0:12:32.400 that she trusted me, that she believes me so much 0:12:32.760 --> 0:12:35.720 that she'll thank me even though she doesn't have the 0:12:35.760 --> 0:12:40.040 car yet. She's thanking me on credit. But how would 0:12:40.080 --> 0:12:42.160 I have felt as a father if she came up 0:12:42.200 --> 0:12:46.560 the next morning? Daddy, will you please get me a car? Yes, Alexandra, 0:12:47.000 --> 0:12:49.680 I told you yesterday. I didn't change my mind. The 0:12:49.720 --> 0:12:52.760 next day, Daddy, please get me that car. Alexandra, what 0:12:52.800 --> 0:12:55.600 are you talking about the next week, Daddy, I haven't 0:12:55.600 --> 0:12:56.600 seen that car yet. 0:12:56.920 --> 0:13:00.480 I'm begging you to get me a car the next month. Daddy. 0:13:00.480 --> 0:13:01.319 I'm pleading with you. 0:13:01.400 --> 0:13:04.840 Please do it, I would say, Alexandra, I gave you 0:13:04.920 --> 0:13:05.440 my word. 0:13:06.040 --> 0:13:07.120 You don't have to beg. 0:13:07.000 --> 0:13:10.000 Me keep asking again. And again, I'm gonna do what 0:13:10.080 --> 0:13:14.360 I promise. Think about how God must feel when we 0:13:14.440 --> 0:13:17.840 come back day after day. God, please heal me. God, 0:13:17.880 --> 0:13:21.240 please bring the right person. God, please turn this problem around. 0:13:21.679 --> 0:13:24.240 The First time you asked, God went to work. 0:13:24.800 --> 0:13:28.680 The first time you prayed in faith according to God's word, 0:13:28.880 --> 0:13:33.720 he said yes. The scripture says all of his promises. 0:13:33.320 --> 0:13:36.560 Are yes and amen. Now I'm human. 0:13:37.280 --> 0:13:40.520 I can break a promise, I can disappoint you, but 0:13:40.600 --> 0:13:44.080 our heavenly Father will never let you down. He'll never 0:13:44.200 --> 0:13:47.960 go back on his word. After you prayed most of 0:13:48.000 --> 0:13:50.520 the time, there's going to be this period of waiting 0:13:51.000 --> 0:13:52.720 where you don't see anything happening. 0:13:53.240 --> 0:13:54.920 There's no sign of a baby. 0:13:54.640 --> 0:13:59.000 Coming, Sarah's still bearing, no sign of the healing, the freedom, 0:13:59.040 --> 0:14:03.000 the abundance. All you have is a promise from the 0:14:03.080 --> 0:14:04.840 God who created the universe. 0:14:05.480 --> 0:14:07.080 All you have is a word. 0:14:07.120 --> 0:14:10.160 From the God who knew you before you were formed 0:14:10.160 --> 0:14:13.520 in your mother's womb, the God who calls you a masterpiece, 0:14:13.880 --> 0:14:17.400 the God who planned out your days for good. Your 0:14:17.480 --> 0:14:19.840 heavenly Father gave you his word. 0:14:20.600 --> 0:14:23.800 Now it's up to us. God. I trust you. I 0:14:23.840 --> 0:14:26.960 don't have to see it to believe it. Lord, I thank. 0:14:26.680 --> 0:14:30.080 You that what you promise is on the way. When 0:14:30.120 --> 0:14:33.640 you thank God in advance before you see any sign, 0:14:33.920 --> 0:14:37.560 that's your faith at work, nor more begging him over 0:14:37.640 --> 0:14:41.080 and over. God, please give me a good year. Please 0:14:41.120 --> 0:14:44.640 bless my business. Please show me your favor. God, please 0:14:44.680 --> 0:14:47.760 bring the right people. You've said that every week for 0:14:47.840 --> 0:14:50.480 seventeen years. Why don't you receive it? 0:14:51.080 --> 0:14:51.360 Lord? 0:14:51.400 --> 0:14:53.880 I thank you that it's going to be a bountiful year. 0:14:54.400 --> 0:14:56.360 Thank you that your blessings. 0:14:55.760 --> 0:14:58.280 Are chasing me down. Thank you that I'm. 0:14:58.120 --> 0:15:02.000 Surrounded by your favor, that goodness and mercy are following me, 0:15:02.320 --> 0:15:06.800 that divine connections are headed my way. The scripture says, 0:15:06.960 --> 0:15:08.440 it is the Father's. 0:15:08.000 --> 0:15:11.280 Good pleasure to give you the kingdom. You don't have 0:15:11.320 --> 0:15:13.480 to beg God. He wants to give it to you. 0:15:14.640 --> 0:15:17.600 Those three years that Alexandra was waiting for a car, 0:15:18.280 --> 0:15:20.320 she would come up to me from time to time 0:15:20.400 --> 0:15:24.040 and put her arm around me. Had long blonde hair, 0:15:24.600 --> 0:15:27.880 beautiful blue eyes, kindness could be. And she would thank 0:15:27.920 --> 0:15:30.360 me for that car and tell me how much he 0:15:30.440 --> 0:15:33.520 loves me and how grateful she is to be my daughter, 0:15:33.640 --> 0:15:36.080 on and on, and I would think to myself, you 0:15:36.120 --> 0:15:40.560 want one car or two cars. When you're always thanking 0:15:40.640 --> 0:15:44.080 God and bragging on his goodness and talking about how 0:15:44.120 --> 0:15:46.920 great he is, that's when you're gonna see his favor 0:15:47.120 --> 0:15:48.240 in amazing ways. 0:15:49.080 --> 0:15:51.640 You don't have to keep asking again and again. 0:15:52.840 --> 0:15:56.560 Make that switch and start thanking him for what he promised. 0:15:57.120 --> 0:15:59.640 For instance, if you get a bad medical report, you 0:15:59.680 --> 0:16:01.960 need to pray at first. God, I'm asking you to 0:16:02.040 --> 0:16:05.800 heal my body. Let your power flow into me and 0:16:05.920 --> 0:16:07.360 correct anything that's wrong. 0:16:07.840 --> 0:16:11.440 I know you're Jehovah Raphah, the Lord, my healer. God. 0:16:11.480 --> 0:16:15.600 I'll receive my healing right now. From that time forward, 0:16:15.960 --> 0:16:17.800 you don't have to pray for healing anymore. 0:16:18.440 --> 0:16:20.280 Your report should be Lord. 0:16:20.080 --> 0:16:22.440 I want to thank you that I'm healed. Thank you 0:16:22.520 --> 0:16:25.200 that you're restoring health unto me. Thank you that I 0:16:25.240 --> 0:16:28.520 will live and not die. Don't go back every day 0:16:28.560 --> 0:16:31.680 and ask for the same thing you've already received it. 0:16:32.080 --> 0:16:34.800 Just keep thanking God that it's on the way. If 0:16:34.840 --> 0:16:38.880 you're believing to overcome an addiction, Lord, I'm asking today 0:16:39.440 --> 0:16:42.360 that this addiction would be broken off of my life. 0:16:42.880 --> 0:16:48.000 That you are freeing me from every stronghold, bondage, generational curse, 0:16:48.280 --> 0:16:51.840 that every force that is hindering my destiny is broken 0:16:51.840 --> 0:16:54.520 in the name of Jesus. You went to God with 0:16:54.560 --> 0:17:00.280 your request. Now add the thanksgiving. Believe that it's already done. Now, 0:17:00.560 --> 0:17:03.640 no more begging God for the same thing. Father, Thank 0:17:03.680 --> 0:17:06.720 you that I am free. Thank you that I'm whole. 0:17:07.119 --> 0:17:07.880 Thank you that the. 0:17:07.840 --> 0:17:10.720 Power you put in me is greater than the power 0:17:10.800 --> 0:17:11.840 that's trying to stop me. 0:17:12.600 --> 0:17:15.400 This is what my mom did when she was diagnosed 0:17:15.440 --> 0:17:19.760 with terminal liver cancer. No treatment available, the doctor sent 0:17:19.800 --> 0:17:23.760 her home to die on December eleventh, nineteen eighty one. 0:17:24.119 --> 0:17:26.879 She and my father laid on the bedroom floor. 0:17:27.359 --> 0:17:30.240 They prayed the prayer of faith and asked God to 0:17:30.280 --> 0:17:34.119 heal her. From that day forward, I never heard my 0:17:34.200 --> 0:17:38.399 mother praying for healing again. She was always thanking God 0:17:38.480 --> 0:17:41.840 for what he promised all through the house. Father, thank 0:17:41.880 --> 0:17:46.080 you that on December eleventh, I received my healing. Now 0:17:46.080 --> 0:17:48.560 I know I am a temple of the Most High God. 0:17:48.920 --> 0:17:51.879 This sickness cannot stay in my body. So Lord, I 0:17:51.920 --> 0:17:55.919 thank you that I'm strong, healthy, full of vitality. That 0:17:56.080 --> 0:17:59.920 was long life. You will satisfy me. She didn't see 0:18:00.080 --> 0:18:04.719 any sign of it. She was still frail, skin yellow weak. 0:18:05.200 --> 0:18:07.679 But she didn't go by what she saw. You have 0:18:07.760 --> 0:18:11.080 to walk by faith and not by science. She kept 0:18:11.119 --> 0:18:15.239 thanking God, kept declaring she was well, talking like it 0:18:15.240 --> 0:18:19.000 had happened. Little by little, she got better and better. Today, 0:18:19.040 --> 0:18:23.000 forty two years later, ninety years young, she's still going strong. 0:18:24.880 --> 0:18:27.720 None of this would have happened if she would have 0:18:27.800 --> 0:18:28.560 begged God. 0:18:29.119 --> 0:18:30.800 Kept asking it again and again. 0:18:31.200 --> 0:18:34.960 She understood this principle that once you prayed, once you 0:18:35.119 --> 0:18:38.760 asking faith, you have to start thanking God in advance 0:18:38.960 --> 0:18:43.240 for what you're believing for. If you don't understand this principle, 0:18:43.520 --> 0:18:47.080 prayer can turn into a complaining session where we just 0:18:47.119 --> 0:18:50.679 air out all our worries, tell God everything that's wrong 0:18:50.840 --> 0:18:52.080 and how bad life is. 0:18:52.160 --> 0:18:54.840 And God, I can't take this anymore. You got to 0:18:54.960 --> 0:18:55.359 heal me. 0:18:55.520 --> 0:18:58.680 And God, I'm begging you to change this child before 0:18:58.720 --> 0:19:01.520 I send him to heaven. God, this traffic is about 0:19:01.560 --> 0:19:05.560 to drive me crazy. The dog's sick, the goldfish is depressed, 0:19:05.640 --> 0:19:06.720 the cat's not speaking. 0:19:06.800 --> 0:19:08.000 God do something. 0:19:08.920 --> 0:19:12.760 And yes, I know God is concerned, but complaining doesn't 0:19:12.800 --> 0:19:17.000 get his attention. It's a whole different perspective to say, God, 0:19:17.080 --> 0:19:19.720 I have all these things coming against me. But I 0:19:19.800 --> 0:19:21.440 want to thank you that you are. 0:19:21.359 --> 0:19:24.520 Fighting my battles. Thank you that you hold victory in 0:19:24.600 --> 0:19:25.680 store for the upright. 0:19:26.160 --> 0:19:28.879 Thank you that what's meant for my harm, you're turning 0:19:28.920 --> 0:19:32.680 to my advantage. That's not only helping you stay stronger, 0:19:33.280 --> 0:19:36.919 building your faith, keeping you encouraged. That's what allows the 0:19:37.000 --> 0:19:40.160 Most High God to go to work. And the Scripture 0:19:40.200 --> 0:19:44.520 says in James, when you pray, ask boldly, without a 0:19:44.600 --> 0:19:48.800 second thought. For people who worry, their prayers are like 0:19:48.960 --> 0:19:50.280 wind whipped waves. 0:19:50.640 --> 0:19:52.560 They don't receive anything from God. 0:19:53.560 --> 0:19:56.439 If you're worrying your prayers, you're not going to receive 0:19:56.560 --> 0:19:59.560 what you're asking for. If you're praying from a place 0:19:59.560 --> 0:20:02.200 of defeat, God, why is this happening? 0:20:02.680 --> 0:20:04.920 When is it going to work out? That's going to 0:20:05.000 --> 0:20:05.480 limit you? 0:20:06.280 --> 0:20:10.080 Pray from a place of victory. Pray what God promised. 0:20:10.600 --> 0:20:13.440 Get in agreement with what He's spoken over your life. 0:20:14.280 --> 0:20:18.760 When the obstacle seems too big, attempted to doubt and complain, 0:20:19.320 --> 0:20:22.760 you can thank God for who he is. When David 0:20:22.800 --> 0:20:25.720 faced Goliath in the natural, he didn't have a chance. 0:20:26.160 --> 0:20:30.080 He could have been negative, discourage, there's no way. Instead, 0:20:30.160 --> 0:20:33.320 he said, Goliath, you come against me with a sword 0:20:33.400 --> 0:20:36.199 and a shield. But I come against you in the 0:20:36.320 --> 0:20:40.200 name of the Lord, God of Israel. He was magnifying 0:20:40.240 --> 0:20:44.119 his God. When you face a giant, instead of talking 0:20:44.119 --> 0:20:47.800 about how big it is, how it looks impossible, do 0:20:48.000 --> 0:20:51.000 like David, Father, I thank you that you're the great. 0:20:51.040 --> 0:20:54.720 I am the creator of the universe. Nothing can stand 0:20:54.760 --> 0:20:55.760 against you. 0:20:55.760 --> 0:20:59.960 You're Jehovah Jarrah, the Lord, my provietor you're al Shada, 0:21:00.080 --> 0:21:02.840 the god of more than enough. You stop the sun 0:21:02.960 --> 0:21:06.320 for Joshua, you parted the red sea for Moses. You 0:21:06.440 --> 0:21:09.359 healed my mother of terminal cancer. You gave us the 0:21:09.440 --> 0:21:14.000 compact center. Lord, I thank you that you're the waymaker. 0:21:13.680 --> 0:21:15.919 The promise keeper, the miracle worker. 0:21:16.560 --> 0:21:20.200 You're the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. 0:21:20.880 --> 0:21:23.639 You have the final saying, Lord, I thank you. What 0:21:23.720 --> 0:21:26.479 you have purposed from my life will come to pass. 0:21:27.240 --> 0:21:30.760 The bigger you make God, the smaller your problems will become. 0:21:31.200 --> 0:21:33.840 The more faith will rise in your heart. That's what 0:21:34.000 --> 0:21:37.840 makes you strong. Are you worrying your prayers or you're 0:21:37.880 --> 0:21:42.320 praying with boldness, with faith, with thanksgiving. In the scripture, 0:21:42.760 --> 0:21:45.600 Jonah ran from God. He didn't go to the city 0:21:45.720 --> 0:21:49.160 of Nitovah like he was supposed to. Instead, he got 0:21:49.200 --> 0:21:50.040 on a boat going. 0:21:49.960 --> 0:21:52.480 The other direction. It was a big storm. 0:21:53.040 --> 0:21:55.200 The crew found out that he was the one causing 0:21:55.240 --> 0:21:58.560 the trouble. They didn't think twice they threw him overboard. 0:21:59.240 --> 0:22:01.880 He thought he was out in the middle of the sea, 0:22:02.400 --> 0:22:05.719 but this big fish swallowed him. He was sitting in 0:22:05.760 --> 0:22:12.360 the belly of a well seaweed wrapped around him. Smelled bad, dark, depressing, lonely, 0:22:12.600 --> 0:22:13.800 and it was his own fault. 0:22:14.680 --> 0:22:17.360 He began to pray. For eight verses. 0:22:17.880 --> 0:22:20.879 All he talked about was how bad his life was, 0:22:21.440 --> 0:22:23.879 how he was in the depths of despair, and how 0:22:23.960 --> 0:22:27.320 he was surrounded by bast waters, on and on, telling 0:22:27.359 --> 0:22:31.399 God all of his problems, how discouraged he was. The 0:22:31.440 --> 0:22:35.200 fact is it was all true. But complaining doesn't get 0:22:35.240 --> 0:22:39.760 God's attention. Worrying your prayers doesn't activate God's power. 0:22:40.160 --> 0:22:41.560 God works where there's faith. 0:22:42.440 --> 0:22:45.520 When Jonah realized that wasn't doing any good, he made 0:22:45.520 --> 0:22:48.800 a switch. In verse nine, he said, in spite of 0:22:48.840 --> 0:22:52.800 all these difficulties, I will offer up the sacrifice of 0:22:52.920 --> 0:22:57.160 praise with the voice of thanksgiving. The midst of all 0:22:57.200 --> 0:23:01.359 these problems seemed hopeless, but in instead of complaining, he 0:23:01.480 --> 0:23:02.879 switched over into praise. 0:23:03.400 --> 0:23:03.720 Lord. 0:23:03.760 --> 0:23:06.560 I thank you that you're still in control. I think 0:23:06.600 --> 0:23:09.399 you that your mercy is bigger than my mistakes, that 0:23:09.440 --> 0:23:12.440 you're the God of another chance, that your purpose for 0:23:12.600 --> 0:23:16.440 my life can still come to pass. I can imagine 0:23:16.440 --> 0:23:19.680 God saying to the angels. Do I hear something coming 0:23:19.720 --> 0:23:23.440 from inside that fish? Is someone praising me from the 0:23:23.480 --> 0:23:27.280 belly of a well, thanking me for my promises? In 0:23:27.359 --> 0:23:31.000 that impossible situation, I have to go to work. They 0:23:31.080 --> 0:23:34.919 must know who I really am. Three days in the 0:23:34.920 --> 0:23:38.440 belly of that well, there was praise, thanksgiving, Lord. 0:23:38.520 --> 0:23:40.439 I thank you that you can turn this around. 0:23:41.400 --> 0:23:44.920 That well started to get intogestion didn't feel good. 0:23:45.080 --> 0:23:47.680 He went over to the shore and spit Jonah out 0:23:47.720 --> 0:23:50.920 on dry ground. Jodah went on to fulfill his purpose. 0:23:51.960 --> 0:23:55.159 You may have a situation where you could be discouraged today, 0:23:55.800 --> 0:23:59.960 worry your prayers, complain, or you can do like Jonah 0:24:00.560 --> 0:24:03.879 despite what's come against you. God, I thank you that 0:24:03.960 --> 0:24:07.080 things are changing in my favor. I'm not moved by 0:24:07.119 --> 0:24:10.080 what I see. I'm moved by what you promised. You 0:24:10.200 --> 0:24:14.840 promised beauty for ashes, you promise mercy for mistakes, you 0:24:14.960 --> 0:24:17.920 promise victory for the upright you promised My. 0:24:17.960 --> 0:24:19.480 Best days are still ahead. 0:24:20.080 --> 0:24:22.920 So Lord, I thank you that you're making ways where 0:24:22.920 --> 0:24:25.080 I don't see your way, that you're a plan for 0:24:25.240 --> 0:24:28.840 my life will still come to pass. The whole key 0:24:29.480 --> 0:24:31.800 is you can't wait for it to change. Then you're 0:24:31.840 --> 0:24:34.760 going to thank him. You have to thank him in advance. 0:24:35.440 --> 0:24:40.680 That's your faith being released. Jonah would have continued complaining, begging, 0:24:40.880 --> 0:24:43.840 we wouldn't be talking about him. You could be at 0:24:43.880 --> 0:24:48.120 a destiny moment if you keep worrying your prayers, begging 0:24:48.160 --> 0:24:52.000 God to change things, discourage over what's not happening that 0:24:52.080 --> 0:24:53.600 can keep you from your purpose. 0:24:54.440 --> 0:24:57.280 Look back over your life. There's not a time that 0:24:57.359 --> 0:24:58.080 God has failed. 0:24:58.119 --> 0:25:01.919 You may not have been, but He made a way. 0:25:02.000 --> 0:25:05.040 He sustained you through the loss. He had mercy on 0:25:05.119 --> 0:25:08.600 your mistakes. He opened doors you couldn't open. He brought 0:25:08.640 --> 0:25:11.840 all someome people into your life. Why are you doubting 0:25:11.920 --> 0:25:15.840 him now? Why are you worrying your prayers? Start adding 0:25:15.920 --> 0:25:20.359 thanksgiving to your request. Be a Jonah, thank God in 0:25:20.400 --> 0:25:22.880 the midst of the challenge for what He's about to do. 0:25:23.520 --> 0:25:27.960 Be in Abraham, give God praise when the promise looks impossible, 0:25:28.280 --> 0:25:31.399 when you see no sign of it. Be like Alexandra, 0:25:31.840 --> 0:25:35.840 believe what your heavenly father promised you. Don't keep asking 0:25:35.920 --> 0:25:36.760 again and again. 0:25:37.240 --> 0:25:38.439 Take him at his word. 0:25:39.160 --> 0:25:42.560 If you'll do this, I believe and declare you're going 0:25:42.640 --> 0:25:47.359 to feel supernatural strength empowering you to stand strong to 0:25:47.480 --> 0:25:48.560 receive the promise. 0:25:49.200 --> 0:25:50.720 Forces that have hindered. 0:25:50.400 --> 0:25:54.280 You are being broken right now. Giants are coming down. 0:25:54.760 --> 0:25:58.120 New doors are about to open. The right people show up. 0:25:58.440 --> 0:26:04.359 Healing favor eight throughs the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name, 0:26:04.840 --> 0:26:06.879 and if you receive it, can you say amen? 0:26:06.960 --> 0:26:07.320 Today? 0:26:09.119 --> 0:26:11.760 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:26:11.800 --> 0:26:12.480 the Lord. 0:26:12.200 --> 0:26:16.120 Of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 0:26:16.720 --> 0:26:20.120 I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. 0:26:20.320 --> 0:26:23.600 I make you my Lord and Savior. If you prayed 0:26:23.600 --> 0:26:26.920 that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. We'd 0:26:26.920 --> 0:26:29.240 love to send you some free information on your new 0:26:29.240 --> 0:26:31.600 walk with the Lord. You can text the number on 0:26:31.680 --> 0:26:34.440 the screen or go to the website. But I hope 0:26:34.480 --> 0:26:37.600 you'll get into a good Bible based church and keep 0:26:37.640 --> 0:26:38.960 God first place. 0:26:40.320 --> 0:26:46.920 It's January. Time to renew my faith. It's January. It's 0:26:46.960 --> 0:26:48.159 time to start a new season. 0:26:50.119 --> 0:26:53.040 It's January. There is no better time than now to 0:26:53.080 --> 0:26:54.520 set the course of our year ahead. 0:26:55.520 --> 0:26:57.840 The beginning of the year is a great time to 0:26:57.880 --> 0:27:00.840 start afresh and a new to let go of negative 0:27:00.880 --> 0:27:03.080 things of the past, and to get ready for the 0:27:03.119 --> 0:27:07.000 new things God has in store. Every January we create 0:27:07.080 --> 0:27:10.480 a new devotional calendar that will help you throughout the year. 0:27:11.040 --> 0:27:13.760 When you start the day off in faith, grateful for 0:27:13.840 --> 0:27:18.520 what God's done, making positive declarations over your future, You're 0:27:18.560 --> 0:27:22.040 setting the tone for a blessed day and a victorious year. 0:27:22.560 --> 0:27:25.199 This devotional will help you get your mind going in 0:27:25.280 --> 0:27:27.960 the right direction so you can go out each day 0:27:28.000 --> 0:27:31.119 in faith knowing that God is in control, that His 0:27:31.280 --> 0:27:32.720 plans for you are for good. 0:27:33.280 --> 0:27:35.920 I'd love to send you a copy as. 0:27:35.720 --> 0:27:38.000 Our way of saying thank you for your gift of 0:27:38.040 --> 0:27:40.800 any amount this first month of the year. We would 0:27:40.840 --> 0:27:42.920 like to send you a copy of our brand new 0:27:43.119 --> 0:27:46.840 twenty twenty four three hundred and sixty five day devotional calendar. 0:27:47.720 --> 0:27:49.720 Do you want to set a faith course for your 0:27:49.760 --> 0:27:52.080 life in twenty twenty four? Do you want to see 0:27:52.080 --> 0:27:55.320 your life take off in new directions of influence, favor, 0:27:55.520 --> 0:27:58.679 and for vision in the year ahead. Using this devotional 0:27:58.720 --> 0:28:03.440 calendar is as easy as one, two, three. One wake 0:28:03.560 --> 0:28:06.919 up with an expectancy in your heart. Two reflect on 0:28:06.960 --> 0:28:11.120 the daily scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. Three Capture 0:28:11.160 --> 0:28:14.920 God's promises to you on journaling lines for writing and reflection. 0:28:16.080 --> 0:28:18.560 Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 0:28:18.560 --> 0:28:22.520 four devotional calendar available this month by simply visiting us 0:28:22.560 --> 0:28:25.960 at Joelostein dot com or calling eight eight eight five 0:28:26.080 --> 0:28:27.199 six seven Joel