In 2005, after participating in the Ph.D. program at Union Presbyterian Seminary for a year, I withdrew due to personal problems. In 2007, after things had calmed down, I reapplied to the program.
I discovered that I was readmitted into the program in January in 2008. I was scheduled to begin summer Hebrew in July 2008.
Even though I didn’t officially start class until July, I didn’t wait until July before I started rejoicing. I started rejoicing in January about what would take place in July! I gave God praise in January about what was going to happen in July!
You don’t have to wait until you hold a blessing in your hand before you give God praise for it. You can praise God for what God is going to do. You don’t have to wait until that time. In Psalm 34:1, the songwriter says, “I will bless the LORD at all times.”