「耶穌舉目向上說，父阿，我感謝你，因為你已經聽我。」－約翰福音11:41
我們以為耶穌必等到復活的神蹟完成，拉撒路也在旁見證時，才歡喜感謝；但祂不待事情結束，就為著即將發生的事而感謝。
耶穌在恩典臨及前先感恩，因祂確信恩典將臨。
在敵人面前先奏起勝利凱歌，在撒種之時歡唱著慶祝收割，在神蹟未成時便率先感謝！
誰會在戰士啟程進入戰場時，就唱起勝利的詩章？誰會在禱告尚未成就時，就發出感恩的頌讚呢？
主感謝的順序並不牽強無理，因為讚美是神蹟顯現的前置作業。
神蹟來自於屬靈的能力；而能力的大小，取決於信心。
－喬懷德博士
在所有的禱告之中，讚美的禱告最討神的喜悅，也讓禱告的人最蒙祝福。
我在中國的時候，曾藉著讚美得到極大的幫助。
記得那時我從家鄉接到悲傷的消息，愁雲慘霧立即籠罩我心；我雖然迫切禱告，但總揮之不去黑影的繚繞；我也試著竭力忍耐，但陰霾卻越過越漆黑。
那時我正出發前往中國內地傳教，赫然見到火車站前頭的教堂牆上，幾個大字寫著「試著感謝」；我就二話不說，立即低頭感謝。過不多時，頭上的烏雲全數散去，並且再也不曾回來。
啊，作詩的人寫得真好：「稱謝耶和華！...這本為美事」（詩篇92:1-3）。
－福斯特
"And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me" (John 11:41).This is a very strange and unusual order. Lazarus is still in the grave, and the thanksgiving precedes the miracle of resurrection. I thought that the thanksgiving would have risen when the great deed had been wrought, and Lazarus was restored to life again. But Jesus gives thanks for what He is about to receive. The gratitude breaks forth before the bounty has arrived, in the assurance that it is certainly on the way. The song of victory is sung before the battle has been fought. It is the sower who is singing the song of the harvest home. It is thanksgiving before the miracle!
Who thinks of announcing a victory-psalm when the crusaders are just starting out for the field? Where can we hear the grateful song for the answer which has not yet been received? And after all, there is nothing strange or forced, or unreasonable in the Master's order. Praise is really the most vital preparatory ministry to the working of the miracles. Miracles are wrought by spiritual power. Spiritual power is always proportioned to our faith.--Dr. Jowett
PRAISE CHANGES THINGS
Nothing so pleases God in connection with our prayer as our praise, and nothing so blesses the man who prays as the praise which he offers. I got a great blessing once in China in this connection. I had received bad and sad news from home, and deep shadows had covered my soul. I prayed, but the darkness did not vanish. I summoned myself to endure, but the darkness only deepened. Just then I went to an inland station and saw on the wall of the mission home these words: "Try Thanksgiving." I did, and in a moment every shadow was gone, not to return. Yes, the Psalmist was right, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord."--Rev. Henry W. Frost
