Just Say Thank You
By Gregory John Wilson
The main idea: If you are walking with God uprightly, and not knowingly holding on to rebellion or sin, your prayers can move from begging to believing. Instead of “Lord, please help me,” pray “Lord, thank You for helping me.”
1. The Condition: Walking Uprightly
This isn't a formula for everyone in every state. It's for the child who is walking with the Father.
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11 (NKJV)
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Psalm 66:18 (NKJV)
“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:21–22 (NKJV)
If you are knowingly in rebellion, the first prayer isn't “thank You,” it's “I'm sorry.” Repentance restores the confidence. Then you can say thank you.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
2. He Already Knows, and He Already Cares
“For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” Matthew 6:8 (NKJV)
“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24 (NKJV)
You aren't informing a reluctant God or talking Him into helping you. You're agreeing with a Father who is already for you.
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32 (NKJV)
3. Begging Prayer vs. Believing Prayer
| “Please, please help me” | “Thank You for helping me” |
|---|---|
| Often comes from fear | Comes from faith |
| What if He doesn't? | I know He will. |
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:24 (NKJV)
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14–15 (NKJV)
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
Thanksgiving is faith speaking out loud.
4. Jesus Prayed This Way
At Lazarus' tomb, before Lazarus came out, Yeshua lifted up His eyes and said:
“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me…” John 11:41–42 (NKJV)
He gave thanks for the five loaves before they multiplied:
“And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.” John 6:11 (NKJV)
Yeshua walked perfectly with the Father, so He thanked Him in advance. As we walk with Him, we're invited into the same confidence.
5. Thanksgiving Is How Scripture Tells Us to Bring Our Requests
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV)
We don't stop asking. We ask with thanksgiving, and the peace comes with it.
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)
Thanks is the door into His presence.
6. Thanksgiving Goes Before the Victory
Jehoshaphat put the singers in front of the army:
“…he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: ‘Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever.’ Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.” 2 Chronicles 20:21–22 (NKJV)
Jonah gave thanks from inside the fish, before he was delivered:
“But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” Jonah 2:9 (NKJV)
Paul and Silas sang hymns at midnight in chains:
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.” Acts 16:25–26 (NKJV)
7. What It Sounds Like in Practice
| Not… | But… |
|---|---|
| “Lord, please give me strength today.” | “Thank You for being my strength today.” |
| “Please provide for this bill.” | “Thank You that You are my Provider and this bill is in Your hands.” |
| “Please heal my child.” | “Thank You that my child is in Your care, and that You are the LORD who heals.” |
| “Please don't leave me.” | “Thank You that You will never leave me nor forsake me.” (Hebrews 13:5) |
You can still name the need. Just name it from a place of trust instead of fear.
8. What This Is NOT
- It isn't a technique to manipulate God or “claim” whatever we want. It's trust in His will and His timing. “Thank You for helping me” includes “Thank You for helping me Your way.”
- It isn't denial. Lament is biblical: the Psalms, and Yeshua in Gethsemane. You can pour out your heart honestly and still end in thanks.
- It isn't for covering ongoing, known sin with nice words.
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 42:11 (NKJV)
9. Thankfulness Changes Us
- Fear shrinks when gratitude grows.
- It moves our focus from the size of the problem to the size of our God.
- Of the ten lepers healed, only one came back to give thanks. Gratitude brought him to Jesus' feet.
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks… And He said to him, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.’” Luke 17:15–16, 19 (NKJV)
Closing thought: A child who knows his father loves him doesn't beg for dinner; he says, “Thanks, Dad,” and sits down at the table. If you're walking with your Father, come to the table. Just say thank you.
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