Reply To: Prayer Basics 2024/2025 Discussion Board 1

[Oziie]

Praise God Before Seeing the Answer – A Posture of Faith and Trust

Praising God in expectation of answers to our prayers is a fundamental act and posture of faith, trust, and intimacy with God. It indicates that our trust is not in that which can be seen alone but in the unchanging character and promises of God. In doing so, we place ourselves in a biblical precedence of trusting worship and activate our spiritual position to receive in expectation.

Then, praising God prior to the answer shows faith in His faithfulness. Hebrews 11 says that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Praising God before we witness the outcome declares that we have faith He is working even when we cannot see it. It’s a way of saying, “God, I trust You more than I understand.” That sort of praise glorifies God and stabilizes our walk with Him.

Secondly, early praise is an attitude of gratitude, not entitlement. It diverts our focus away from the problem and toward the God who is the problem solver. It reminds us that He has done it before, and He will do it again. This kind of praise aligns our hearts to see God’s hand at work in ways we otherwise wouldn’t. It also guards our hearts from bitterness, worry, and impatience, which find their way in when we’re focused on results.

Thirdly, praising God in advance becomes a prophetic declaration of victory. In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat sent singers ahead of the army to sing praises to the Lord, and God caused the enemies to kill each other. They conquered through worship. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas worshiped God in prison prior to any doors opening. Their worship opened heavenly intervention. These examples teach us that praise is not always a product of victory—it can be a prelude to it.

Lastly, this kind of praise enhances intimacy with God. It is not so much about what we get but about who He is. When we praise Him ahead of the answer, we are declaring that He is worthy—whether He decides to give us what we want or not.

In conclusion, praising God before seeing the answers is a faith-filled practice that honors Him, strengthens us, and invites His power into our situation. It’s a declaration that our hope is not in circumstances, but in the unchanging, all-powerful, ever-faithful God.