Praising God Before He Acts

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. (Psalm 31:19–20)

Have you come to God in prayer praising Him for His protection?

The psalmist both lays out his concerns before God and rejoices in the confidence that God will protect him. God has in this prayer given us an example to follow. If our worries, fears, and concerns bring us to God to make our requests, then God’s Spirit, if we will let Him, can assure us of God’s protection. We pray for our concerns, but then we should praise God for His faithfulness and for His protection even before we have visibly seen His response. This is faith.

In Pastor John Bisagno’s book, The Power of Positive Praying, he told the story of his child asking him to build him a playhouse in the backyard. Pastor Bisagno was at home preparing his Sunday message and stopped for a moment and said to him, “Yes, I will.” Then a few moments later he noticed his child bringing toys into the backyard and putting them into one pile. Why? he asked. The child was simply getting ready for the playhouse to be built, in complete trust in his father that he would do so. Pastor Bisagno immediately got up from his studies and began working on constructing the playhouse simply because he did not want to disappoint his child.

God’s heart is similar to this. He delights in helping His children, and when we demonstrate confidence or faith in Him, He is quick to rise to our defense.

Do not only make requests of God. Also rejoice in His future answer to you. Praise Him for His response even before He acts.