Philippians 4:6 (AMP) Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
It has been said that thanksgiving is the language of faith. In this passage, Paul underscores that in the connection of our thought-prayer life.
In Mark 11:24, Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them”.
That being the case, our supplication to God then becomes a prayer of thanksgiving, if we truly believe we’ve received.
Contemplate the following faith-enriching exercises as a kickstart to the rest of 2022:
For you, what desires or accomplishments would make this year successful? Begin to thank God now as if it’s the end of 2022 and they’ve already happened. Write down the specific (not vague) achievements, keeping your clear vision at the forefront throughout the year (Habakkuk 2:2). According to various leadership and professional development studies, it has been shown that anywhere from 43% – 98% of goals are accomplished simply through the act of writing them down. Let thanksgiving determine your outcome in 2022, declaring the end from the beginning!
In Joshua 6:2, God told Joshua, “… See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor”, when it didn’t appear as such in the natural. He had to believe, see, and move in the Lord’s directives by faith (vv.3-27).
To further cement what you’re believing for, use your image-building muscles by creating a vision board. It’s done through conceptualizing your dreams using pictures, objects and words arranged on a display board. The decorated board can be plain or minimalistic in its design or intricate and full of vivid colors and creativity – or perhaps somewhere in between. The point is to create a physical picture of something that is currently abstract, only existing in your imagination.
Thanksgiving, as the language of faith, gives way to “…the [action of His] power that is at work within us…” (Eph. 3:20 AMPC).
Prayer: Lord, before any other blessings manifest in my life, I thank you for the goodness You have already shown. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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