Sunday November 22, 2020
Thanking God For What I Don’t Have…Yet
So, just what is an omer? An omer is a dry measure for grain that is equivalent to approximately two quarts. The Omer is also a period of forty-nine days between the holiday of Passover and the holiday of Shavuot (Pentecost). First the service leader recites a special blessing that goes: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has commanded us to count the Omer.” Then the congregation responds by saying: “Today is the fifth day in the Omer.” Or, on the 24th day, you would say “Today is twenty-four days, which is two weeks and two days of the Omer.” Israel was commanded to count the Omer (the Barley Harvest) beginning the day after the Sabbath during Passover, 50 days to the Biblical Festival of Shavuot (Pentecost).
Now think about this…for thousands of years the Jewish people had no homeland and no harvest to count. Yet they continued to count the Omer, counting a harvest that did not exist. After the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 C.E., the Omer offering could no longer be observed. But the practice of counting the Omer continued and is still observed by many Jews. (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of offering)
Stop for a moment and consider that…no land, no harvest, no omer. And still, they celebrated and counted an unseen blessing. Now, if the Jews could count the days of a non-existent harvest, in expectation of a divine blessing which they earnestly hoped for, then they set an excellent example for us.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb.11:1)
Since faith is the conviction of things not seen, we, also, can begin to give thanks for blessings we’re praying for, but have yet to receive…our unsaved loved-one, chronic illness, broken relationship, financial disaster, pandemics, political chaos. We can rejoice in them, even as we give thanks in the expectation of victory, restoration, and a harvest of righteousness which is on the way. It’s what Abraham did!
He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what He had said. (Rom.4:20-21 TMSG)
No unbelief or distrust made him [Abraham] waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God (Rom.4:20 AMP)
We all have dreams, promises, and goals that God’s placed in our hearts…things we’re believing for… situations we’re praying to turn around. These promises start off like seeds; they don’t grow overnight, there’s always a period of waiting involved. Now that seed is lying dormant–it’s still alive, it still has potential, but you have to do your part and start watering the seed. The way you water it is by thanking God in advance. You can’t wait until you receive the promise, you have to thank God that the answer is on the way.
Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice (jump for joy) in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments. (Hab.3:17-19)
Maybe you’re struggling in your health and the medical report doesn’t look good. Don’t talk about how you feel, say instead, “Father, thank you that I’m healthy, strong, with long life you are satisfying me.” That’s not just being positive, that’s watering the seed.
In your finances maybe you’re struggling, business is slow…all through the day say, “Father, thank you that whatever I touch prospers and succeeds, I’m coming out of debt, thank you that Your favor surrounds me like a shield.”
When the thought comes saying, “you’re never going to get well,” instead of worrying, turn it around and say, “Father, thank You that You are restoring health back unto me”.
When you give God praise, God gives you strength to keep believing. God wants to bring the promise to pass, but He’s looking for people who will thank Him before the walls fall down, before the healing comes, before the legal situation turns around.
When you thank God in advance for the answer, that’s what keeps you encouraged. You’re not going to stay strong in faith by complaining…you’re not going to stay determined if you’re talking about how bad it is. If you don’t thank God in advance, you won’t have the strength you need to wait for the promise.
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” (Jn.11:41-43)
Having constant gratitude demonstrates your faith and trust in God because not only do you thank Him for what He has done in the past, you thank Him for what He will do in the future. Go ahead and thank Him in advance for what you know He’s going to do. Counting the omer is as good as counting your blessings!
Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. (Pro.23:18)
