AfterThanks We were extremely honored last week by the appreciation gifts from our church body that enabled us to take a trip to New York City. We went to a Natalie Grant and Danny Goke concert, a show, and church at the Brooklyn Tabernacle, and ate some amazing food. When we first landed at JFK, though, there was more than an hour’s drive to our hotel, so we called an Uber. The traffic was overwhelming—typical New York—but during that long drive, I had a meaningful conversation with our driver. He shared about his life in Queens, his culture, and his journey. By the time we reached the hotel, something had shifted. I didn’t just appreciate the ride; I appreciated the man. His excellence, the cleanliness of his car, his careful driving—all of it reflected character. As he unloaded our bags, I told him “thank you,” and I meant it. But something happened next. The Uber app offered an opportunity to go beyond words. I could give him five stars, leave a positive comment, and add a tip. In that moment, my gratitude became something more. It became praise—something that would strengthen his name, his credibility, and even his future opportunities. We have been blessed with an abundance far beyond what we recognize—our bodies, our families, our resources, and opportunities. Even when we face overwhelming needs, there are still countless reasons to be grateful. Thanksgiving shifts our attention toward blessings and their Giver. It is necessary. It is right. It is powerful. But there is something after thanksgiving—something that takes us deeper. Thanksgiving redirects the gaze to the Giver. In the beholding of Him, however, it is Praise that recognizes His nature, declares His faithfulness, and glorifies His name. And when praise rises, something supernatural happens. Thanksgiving is good for the heart. But praise—praise breaks chains. Praise activates faith for a breakthrough. There is an opportunity today to go beyond the necessity of thanks to the power it enables in praise, to discover what happens when our faithful God is magnified and praised for His greatness, for who He is. AfterThanks Notes Thanks gains entrance to the place where praise activates chain-breaking faith for breakthroughs. Psalms 100:4 (NLT) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Thanks can be an expected obligation. Praise can be a choice of impassioned relationship. Thanksgiving acknowledges what someone has done Praise affirms who someone is and contributes to their reputation Thanks is necessary for turning to the Giver of every good thing. It is after thanks that power is accessed in praise. Thanks is about something received. Praise is about the One who gave it. Thanks (Things): Psalms 103:2 (NLT) 2 Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. Praise (Him): Psalms 29:2 (NLT) 2 Honor the LORD for the glory of his name. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Thanks turns reception into a worship encounter of glorifying. Luke 17:12-18 (NKJV) 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” After thanks - praise Psalms 95:2-5 (NLT) 2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. 3 For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods. 4 He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. 5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. In thanks–beholding; in beholding-transformation into… 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NLT) 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. Gratitude opens the door to identifying with the greatness of God/enabling faith for deliverance. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NKJV) 21 And when he had consulted with the people, 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.” 22 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. In the courts of praise- breaking of bonds. Acts 16:25-26 (MKJV) 25 And toward midnight Paul and Silas prayed and praised God in a hymn. And the prisoners listened to them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were loosened. Praise – the powerful after effect of gratitude… Joshua 6:20 (NKJV) 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. Gratitude fuels obedience—and obedience positions us for victory. Gratitude reflects on past victories, which builds faith for current battles. Before the walls fell physically, gratitude had already collapsed them spiritually. Their shout was gratitude for a victory God had already secured. Gratitude shifts the gaze from the obstacle to the One who overcomes every obstacle. And when gratitude adjusts the vision, praise becomes inevitable. Overview 1. Thanks vs. Praise Thanks can be an expected obligation. Praise is a chosen, impassioned response of relationship. Thanksgiving acknowledges what someone has done; Praise affirms who someone is and strengthens the reputation of their name. 2. Thanks Turns Reception Into Worship Thanksgiving is not the end—it becomes worship when it returns to the Giver. Thanks becomes praise when it glorifies Him, not just the gift. 3. After Thanks — Praise Thanks beholds. Praise transforms. Thanksgiving Opens the Door to Faith Praise identifies the greatness of God and enables faith for deliverance. 5. Praise Breaks Chains Thanks gets you inside. Praise sets you free. 6. Praise — The Powerful After-Effect of Gratitude Gratitude fuels obedience—and obedience positions you for victory. Gratitude recalls past victories—and builds faith for current battles. Before the walls fell physically, gratitude had already collapsed them spiritually. Their shout was gratitude for a victory God had already secured. Gratitude shifts the gaze from the obstacle to the God who overcomes all obstacles. When gratitude adjusts the vision—praise becomes inevitable. PRAYER I am so grateful, Father, for the many precious promises you’ve given that enable me to partake of your nature in abundance. In turning to You with thanks, I acknowledge the incredible God that You are, more powerful and mighty than any other. I recognize and proclaim that there is nothing too difficult for You, that You conquer completely all who oppose and threaten You and Yours. As I praise You now, cause mountains to quake and things to change in the glory of Your presence. DECLARATIONS (After Thanks — Praise) I enter His gates with thanksgiving, and I move into His power through praise. I am grateful for what God has done, and I praise Him for who He is. Gratitude opens my eyes; praise enables transformation into the glory I behold. Gratitude opens the door to courts where praise connects my heart to God’s ways. As I praise, chains break, doors open, and walls fall. I praise the Lord for victories already secured on my behalf. My shout is the sound of faith, gratitude, and breakthrough. After thanks—praise rises, faith activates, and God moves.