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"Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." John 11:41 (emphasis added)
It's easy to give thanks when things are already received. The hard thing is to give thanks before the miracle has been done. There is power when we say those words to God when all that we see is death. Can you imagine the scenario where Jesus spoke those words? His friend died, everybody was weeping, all hope was lost and He also wept. That is the only place in the bible where we see Him sharing tears. As He did, we all do have those moments.
When we feel that all hope is lost in some areas of our life, that others receive the answer to their prayers but for some reason we still don't, then there is when we need to say "And I know that You always hear Me.” (John 11:42a). That inner confidence is all we need to step out and cry with a loud voice and say to the Lazarus of our lives “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43)
Being sure that we have been heard demands friendship, the intimacy of a closed relationship. When there is an area of our life that has been barren for a long time, and we continue to "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17), sometimes we tend to do it with the faith tank running empty. But, right there is when God wants to let us know, in our heart, "I hear you. Yes, I hear YOU!".
'Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. ' Colossians 3:15-17 (emphasis added)
So, give thanks, just do it. And see God resurrection power lift what was hopeless, and glorify the Father in the process. ”because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” John 11:42
The Blessedness of Answered Prayer
“I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled. I cried out to You, O Lord; And to the Lord I made supplication: “What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” Psalms 30 (emphasis added)
