PASTOR JOEL OSTEEN SERMON CULTIVATE THE HABIT OF GRATITUDE : Pastor Joel Osteen said, I want to talk to you today about thanking God in advance, we all have dreams and goals that God has placed in our heart, things we are believing for situations, we are praying to turn around these promises, start off like seeds, they don’t come to pass overnight, there’s always a period of waiting involved and from the time we pray till the time we see it come to fulfilment, that’s called the trial of our faith.
This is when many people get discouraged and give up, they start believing the negative thought, it’s never going to happen, it’s taken too long, now that seed is lying dormant, it’s still alive, it still has potential but you have to do your part and start watering the seed, the way you water it, is by thanking God in advance.
You can’t wait till you receive the promise, you have to thank God that the answer is on the way, maybe you’re struggling in your health, the medical report doesn’t look good, don’t talk about how you feel, say father thank you that I’m healthy, thank you that I’m strong, thank you with long life you’re satisfying me that’s not just being positive, that’s watering the seed in your finances.
You might be struggling, business might be slow, but all through the day, we have to keep saying father thank you that whatever I touch prospers and succeeds, thank you that I’m coming out of debt, thank you that your favour surrounds me like a shield. When you thank God in advance for the answer, it not only waters the seed but that strengthens your own faith. This is what Abraham did, God placed the seed in his heart that he would have a baby, 24 years went by, there was no sign of a child, it looked impossible, Abraham and Sarah were nearly a hundred years old, every voice said it wasn’t going to happen, they could have easily talked themselves out of it but the scripture says Abraham grew strong in faith by giving praise to God.
Notice when you give God praise, it gives you strength, when you thank God in advance for the answer, that’s what keeps you encouraged, you’re not going to stay strong in faith by complaining, you’re not going to stay determined if you’re talking about how bad it is, God you promised me this baby but seems like, I’m too old, God you said you wanted me to be blessed but my business is so slow, Nadia said you’d bring me out of this trouble but these people are so much more powerful than me, no switchover into praise business, may be slow but lord, I want to thank you that you prosper me always, even in a day these people may be powerful, Lord I want to thank you that your all-powerful.
Pastor Joel Osteen said, praise makes you strong, praise keeps you moving forward. so often we think I’ll give God praise after the problem turns around, I’ll thank God after business picks up after I see the solution, so if you don’t learn this principle to thank God in advance, you won’t have the strength you need to wait for the promise.