We live in a world that rewards success with noise and glitter, but sometimes we forget about the real sources of those blessings. Many of us have lived seasons of tears, praying with tears in our eyes, secretly pleading with God for answers in breakthrough, healing, jobs, children, or provision. However, once those answers are received, some people forget the prayer altars and instead go to the altars of the world.
“This is not about disapproving celebrations, but about the glory going to the right place,” said the preacher. “If you prayed for it with tears, then do not celebrate the glory in nightclubs and bars, but give the glory to the one who deserves it—God.”
“This is not about disapproving celebrations, but about the glory going to the right place,” said the preacher. “If you prayed for it with tears, then do not celebrate the glory in nightclubs and bars, but give the glory to the one who deserves it—God.”
Remember Where You Came From
Remember the nights you lay awake with a heavy heart, praying, fasting, believing against the odds. You may have asked God for a job, even after being rejected time and time again, or for answers if you had yet to conceive children.
You made promises—a common one is: “Lord, if you do this for me, I’ll serve you for the rest of my life.”
But then the miracle occurred. The offer letter arrived. The baby was born. The door swung open.
However, over time, the fire dwindled, and instead of thanksgiving, the celebration became worldly. It is the same person who wept before the altar who is now dancing with neon lights in the background, bottle raised high, with the tears forgotten that once fell before God.
This is the tragic irony of the human condition – we remember the blessing, but often forget the Blesser.
Why You Should Return Glory to God
The Bible clearly states, “Every good and perfect gift comes from above” (James 1:17). Nothing that you have today, whether talent, career, health, or wealth, was acquired solely on your own strength. Even the opportunities you feel you have created are, in fact, the result of God’s favor.
When we celebrate with gratitude in ways that are dishonoring to God, we are, in effect, redirecting the glory from the Giver to us or the world around us. To celebrate with bars/clubs, where the name of God is often brought into derision and sin is exalted, is to be both indelicate and ungrateful.
Real thanksgiving is the moment you publicly and in private acknowledge God, the source, of your success. That is why each time God brought success to His people, the provision of the success was honored with the construction of altars, sacrifices, and singing praises, but never any alcohol.
How to Celebrate God’s Way
Celebrating is Not Sinful — It’s the “How” and “Where” That Counts
God is pleased with your happiness, but He also wants the happiness to give glory to Him.
Here are some ways you celebrate your fulfilled prayer requests:
1. Testify: Give your personal testimony of how God has changed you, perhaps on the church website or from the platform.
2. Host A Thanksgiving Service: Rather than renting a bar, you could hold a worship service or Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends.
3. Bless Others: Take your blessing to bless another person! Give charity, sponsor a child, or help a struggling family with your resources!
4. Keep Your Promise: “If you vowed to serve or give back when God answered, fulfill that vow.”
5. Stay humble: “The same God who blessed you has the authority to remove those blessings from you,” said Jesse DuPlantis, an international evangelist.
The power of gratitude
“Thank you” is much more than gratitude, because gratitude is the posture of the heart. When you give glory back to God, you are positioning yourself for even greater blessing because many people have ceased experiencing from God because they have ceased to acknowledge Him.
Just as with the ten lepers, only one came back to give thanks, and Jesus said, “Your faith has made you whole”(Luke 17:11-19). Gratitude, you see, is more than just the maintenance of your blessings, but their perfectioning, also.
Just as with the ten lepers, only one came back to give thanks, and Jesus said, “Your faith has made you whole”(Luke 17:11-19). Gratitude, you see, is more than just the maintenance of your blessings, but their perfectioning, also.
Final Thoughts
"If you’ve ever prayed for it with tears, you cannot let the world’s excitement steal the spirituality from your witnessing." It wasn’t the deejay who brought you the miracle, but neither was it the group of people in the bar who opened the door. It was God, the same one who saw your tears, the same one who heard your cries, who made the way when there wasn’t one! Celebrate, but celebrate correctly! Let your celebration lead people to Jesus, not to the world! Give God the glory that is due Him—He is the one who changed your mourning into dancing, your tears into triumph!
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