Have you ever noticed how Jesus gave thanks before his miracles? Before multiplying loaves and fishes to feed thousands, before raising Lazarus from the dead, even before establishing communion at the Last Supper – He gave thanks first. This wasn’t just a polite gesture or religious formality. Jesus was demonstrating a profound spiritual principle that could transform our lives today: thanksgiving—“eucharisteo”— often precedes the miracle.
The Power of Eucharisteo
The Greek word “eucharisteo” is more than just a casual “thanks.” It’s a deep, joy-filled gratitude that acknowledges God’s goodness even before seeing the outcome.
Hidden within the practice of “eucharisteo” are three powerful concepts: charis (grace), chara (joy), and eucharistia (thanksgiving). Like a beautifully braided cord, these three elements weave together to create a lifestyle of gratitude and contentment.
Think about the implication for a moment. At the heart of thanksgiving are grace and joy. True gratitude grows from a daily, inner awareness of God’s graces in our lives. That awareness humbles us and fills us with joy, even in the hard times.
Eucharisteo is an ongoing, divinely designed cycle of grace, thanksgiving, and joy. It never expires.
When Jesus stood before Lazarus’s tomb, grief hung heavy in the air. His dear friend was dead. Mary and Martha were heartbroken. The crowd was skeptical. Yet before calling Lazarus forth, Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me” (John 11:41). In that moment of apparent defeat, Jesus chose thanksgiving. The miracle followed.
The Joy Connection
Scientific research affirms what Scripture has always taught: gratitude and joy are inseparable companions.
Why does gratitude often lead to joy? Because it shifts our focus from what’s missing to what’s present, from what’s broken to what’s blessed.
The Apostle Paul understood this connection when he wrote from prison, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). His circumstances weren’t joy-worthy, but his perspective was anchored in thanksgiving.
Finding Grace in the Ordinary
In her book, One Thousand Gifts, author Ann Voskamp challenges us to find grace in ordinary moments. A child’s laughter. Morning sunlight streaming through a window. The aroma of fresh coffee. Each (and many more) is a holy invitation to notice God’s grace in our daily lives.
When we develop this awareness, even difficult circumstances take on new meaning. The hospital wait becomes sacred space for prayer. Traffic delays become opportunities for reflection. A broken relationship becomes soil for growth. This isn’t denial or toxic positivity – it’s choosing to trust God’s presence in every situation.
Practice Eucharisteo Today
We can cultivate a lifestyle of thanksgiving with 3 powerful steps:
1. Record Daily Blessings: Make a list of God’s graces you experience each day for a month. Allow this gratitude journal to mold a gratitude mindset. Your entries don’t need to be extraordinary. Instead, discover beauty in ordinary moments. Find God in the unexpected. The more you look, the more you’ll see.
2. Practice Preemptive Thanksgiving: Before facing challenges, give thanks. Thank God for solutions not yet seen, for strength not yet felt, for wisdom not yet received. Acknowledge God’s work in process.
3. Reflect on Past Victories: Document God’s faithfulness. Share testimonies of his interventions. Each testimony points to a Sovereign God whose is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
When we pause to record or meditate on God’s faithfulness, we participate in a Scripture-rich tradition of calling forth remembrance. Old Testament leaders erected stone pillars—physical reminders memorializing God’s grace and power. The nation of Israel established annual feasts to remember and celebrate God’s interventions and triumphs. Psalms and songs recounted God’s mighty deeds and professed his steadfast love.
All these practices created a personal and collective memory of God’s faithfulness and enhanced the expectation of God-scripted possibilities.
The Miracle of Perspective
One of the immediate miracles of eucharisteo is the transformation of our perspective: Anxiety diminishes · Peace increases · Joy emerges · Hope rises · Faith strengthens.
Eucharisteo—that beautiful braid of grace, thanksgiving, and joy—can transform our perspective and open our eyes to God’s presence in every circumstance. Remember the feeding of the five thousand? When Jesus gave thanks for five loaves and two fish, he demonstrated trust in God’s provision before seeing the multiplication. His gratitude preceded the miracle.
What if we approached our insufficient resources the same way?
Moving Forward in Grace
The practice of eucharisteo isn’t about denying difficulties or pretending everything is perfect. Instead, we:
- Express dependence on God
- Acknowledge God’s presence in every situation
- Choose joy through the regular practice of thanksgiving
- Trust His character when circumstances are challenging
- Pair honest lament (grief, sorrow, confusion) with hope
The miracle often begins with “thank you.” These words have power not because they change our circumstances, but because they:
- Establish communion with God
- Shift our focus from problems to possibilities
- Strengthen our faith muscle through remembrance
- Build our resilience
- Create space for divine intervention
Our miracle might not come instantly or in the form we predict. Our situation might not change immediately. But in the practice of eucharisteo, we find the miracle of God’s presence, the joy of his grace, and the peace of knowing he is sovereign and good.
Start today. Look for God. Give thanks. Embrace joy.
My Scriptural Prayer for You
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
In the presence of his grace, may gratitude flow from your heart as a natural response, bringing forth the joy of the Lord as your strength.
(2 Corinthians 13:14, Nehemiah 8:10)
Your Turn
- Think about your daily routine. What are three ordinary moments you can pause and give thanks for today, turning them into extraordinary experiences?
- Reflect on a challenging season in your life. How might adopting a posture of thanksgiving (eucharisteo) have changed your perspective or outcome during that time?
- Consider the concept that joy (chara) often follows gratitude. In what areas of your life could cultivating a habit of thankfulness potentially unlock deeper joy?
Resources
Ten Ways to Redefine Gratitude by Bonnie Gray
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp
Ripples: An Exploration of Gratitude
Ten Ways to Practice Gratitude with Children
18 Psalms of Thanksgiving and Praise for a Heart of Gratitude by Janna Wright
Medicine for the Mess – a free monthly email newsletter focused on finding God in the daily struggles and tough seasons of life
About the Author
Cheryl Liberatore is the author of the Amazon best-seller, Healing or Homecoming: Finding God When Life Is in the Balance. In it, she shares her husband’s and daughter’s journeys with terminal cancer—one ending in miraculous healing and one leading to eternal homecoming. Cheryl continues to write from her home, where she caretakes her severely handicapped brother. From her experience of God’s faithfulness during hardships, the God in the Mess ministry arose to encourage others experiencing adversity.
