“Father, I thank you that you heard me.” —John 11:41
One of those qualities of Jesus that you may overlook if you’re not observant is His spirit of gratitude. It’s noticeable on several occasions.
At the return of the seventy disciples. Jesus had dispatched these followers into various cities and towns, instructing them to proclaim the kingdom of God everywhere they went. As they returned home to report what had occurred through their ministry, they were almost too excited to get the words out. To see the joy of Christian service painted across their faces and decorated by their excited words caused Jesus to step back and marvel at the way the Father works through His people (Luke 10:21).
We see it again at the tomb of Lazarus. Even before making the official pronouncement for Lazarus to “come forth,” Jesus turned to His Father and gave thanks. It’s not hard to thank God after He answers our prayers and we’ve seen the desired outcome. The test of faith and surrender to the will of God is the ability to express thanks before we know how He will respond.
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Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy
©2009 Revived Hearts Foundation
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
How can you follow the example of Jesus in having a spirit of gratitude?