By Lynda Noel, PWH Board Member

Learning to thank Him in advance, trusting our prayers will be answered

Do you sometimes feel like you are entitled to a better career, a promotion at your job, a better house, a bigger ministry? During this season of thanksgiving, are you feeling grateful to God for His grace and mercy that has brought you this far, or are you being resentful toward God for unanswered prayers and goals left unmet. I sense that God is urging us (including me) to beware of the “spirit of entitlement.” There were certain things that I had been praying about for a while; I projected that I would accomplish them this year because I felt that my waiting time was up and that my breakthrough was way over due; and when all the doors started to close around me, it hit me real hard and during that time, I felt like God had let me down; but soon, God made me understand that the fulfillment of my plans were not going to happen on my own timing, but on His timing.

David on the other hand, as shared with us in Psalms 57, had a whole different approach when he was faced with having to hide from Saul, his adversary who was hunting him down to take his life. He cried out to God and asked for mercy during his time of great need and fear for his life, vs. 1-4, 5. While he is in this humble state of being, his state of mind is glorifying God for his foreseen deliverance; “my heart is steadfast , O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give you praise…I will praise You O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. Vs. 7-11.

Before I conclude, let me share this statement made by a Hollywood Star, during her interview with Glamour Magazine. In that article, she talks about how she felt after receiving the honor of planting her feet and hand prints in the historic Walk of Fame: “It was a milestone in my career, which was surreal…I don’t want to get to used to any of this because then entitlement sets in, and that’s the kiss of death.” My brothers and sisters, let’s not allow the spirit of entitlement to set into our lives. When faced with obstacles which hinder the fulfillment of our plans, let us learn to thank Him in advance, and trust that our prayers will be answered, if it is the Father’s will and in His own timing. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, let’s not only thank God for our families and his daily provisions; let’s be mindful of those in Haiti and other parts of the world who may not have much to thank God for; let’s also show our gratitude to Him for who He is, for His grace and mercy toward us, and for the peace that He gives us knowing that whatever the trials that we may face, we can count on His everlasting love to see us through.