In this month’s blog, I want to share with you something that is very simple, and yet tends to be overlooked by many. What are the most powerful words on earth? They aren’t what you may think, but they will ABSOLUTELY change your life. These words have the power to change your emotions and your life for the better in each and every way.

Not surprisingly, the most powerful words on earth are found in the Bible. It begins with a story in John, chapter 11.

This is the story of when Lazarus died. Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. Jesus knew Mary and Martha, and He knew Lazarus. He loved them, and they loved Him. When Lazarus suddenly died, they sent somebody to find Jesus to let Him know what happened.

Word got to Jesus, but He was delayed in coming. Now, whether He delayed Himself or He allowed Himself to be delayed, we know God’s timing is always the right time; and it’s never too late with God. No matter what difficult situation you’re in, it’s never too late!

“Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, ‘Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.’

Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?'” (v. 38–40)

Now, that ought to teach us something right there! If you believe, you will see. This is what living by faith is all about! It’s believing God’s Word before you see it. It’s believing God’s promises before you see them show up in your life.

If you have to see it to believe it, then it’s not faith at all. But if you’ll believe it, you’ll eventually see it.

Right at that moment, Jesus uttered the most powerful words on earth . . .

“Then Jesus lifted His eyes, and He said, ‘Father, I thank You . . .'” (v. 41)

Notice how Jesus prayed. “Father, I thank You.” He didn’t say, “Father, give Me the power.” He didn’t say, “Father, raise him from the dead.” He didn’t say, “Father, help Me.” He didn’t say, “Father, will you?” He didn’t say, “Father, can you?”

No, He said, “Father, thank You.”

These are the most powerful words on earth: “Father, thank You.”

Thankfulness and gratitude release three powerful blessings into your life.

First, thankfulness is the gateway to happiness.

It’s important to realize that happiness is not some secular, worldly, unspiritual thing. Happiness was God’s idea. Scripture is filled with all of the things that God says will make us happy!

• Happy is the man who knows his sins are forgiven. (Romans 4:7)
• Happy is the one that does not condemn himself. (Romans 14:22)
• Happy is the man that finds wisdom and gets understanding. (Proverbs 3:13)
• Happy is the man whose trust is in the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:7)

Second, thankfulness is the gateway to the miraculous.

When Jesus prays, “Father, I thank You.” Notice this. “I thank You that You have heard Me.” And then look at what happened next.

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!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” (v. 42–44)

All of this—this miracle of a man raised from the dead—began with a prayer of thankfulness. The power of the miraculous comes from the power of gratitude.

This truth can supercharge your prayers!

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)

So, you can start your prayer the same way that Jesus did. “Father, I thank You that You’ve heard me.”

Do you need a miracle or a breakthrough today? Do you need a turning point that brings your turnaround? Put your trust in the goodness of God. Put your trust in His promise that all things work together for your good. Put your trust in the fact that what the enemy meant for evil, God will turn into something good.

• Father, I thank You that no matter what weapons are formed against me, none of them will prosper!
• Father, I thank You that no matter who’s against me, God, You are for me!
• Father, I thank You that neither death, life, angels, or principalities, can separate me from Your love!

Gratitude for who God is, what He’s already done, and what He promises in His Word activates the miraculous into your life.

Thirdly, thankfulness is the gateway to your purpose.

Look at Romans 1:21.

Although they knew God, they did not glorify or magnify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

In other words, they put the magnifying glass on themselves rather than on God. They didn’t give Him thanks, their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. How did their thinking become futile? Because they did not give Him thanks.

The word “futile” means without purpose.

We miss our purpose when we forget what God has done for us. The simple act of remembering the good He has done, causes us to be thankful. And that thankfulness ushers you into a purpose-filled life and purpose-filled direction.

The purpose or will of God is fulfilled through the power of thanks. “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)

And when you are walking in God’s purpose for your life, you are unstoppable! And it all begins with four simple—but powerful—words.

“Father, I thank You.”

I think this is very fitting in this season of Thanksgiving. And despite the difficulties we’ve all faced this year, I pray you will put this into practice and re-focus on what God has already done for you; and focus on the fact that He always hears you when you pray. This will release true gratitude and greater blessing day by day.

If you would like to hear further teaching on this important topic, click here for my full teaching on, “The Most Powerful Words on Earth.”