--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: TELLING GOD, “THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR…" description: "\"“TELLING GOD, “THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION.” I love when people thank me for doing something I haven’t done yet. They’ll send me an email, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/jonathan-acuff-25875_asking-god_telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-c_2438110.jpg" --- # TELLING GOD, “THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION.” I… ![“TELLING GOD, “THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION.” I love when people thank me for doing something I haven’t done yet. They’ll send me an email, ask me to work on a project, and then end the message by saying, “Thanks in advance for your cooperation.” Ohh, that is tricky. That bold move is…” quote by Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/jonathan-acuff-25875_asking-god_telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-c_2438110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/jonathan-acuff-25875_asking-god_telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-c_2438110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/jonathan-acuff-25875_asking-god_telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-c_2438110.jpg) > ““TELLING GOD, “THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION.” I love when people thank me for doing something I haven’t done yet. They’ll send me an email, ask me to work on a project, and then end the message by saying, “Thanks in advance for your cooperation.” Ohh, that is tricky. That bold move is designed to force my hand, to make me sit there and think, “Well they already thanked me for doing it. I suppose I should in fact do it.” Even better though is when there is a condition of speed applied to the request. “Thank you for doing this so quickly,” or, “I really appreciate your quick turnaround.” That’s two levels of trickery. Not only have I not agreed to do it, but I certainly haven’t agreed to do it quickly. If you want to add a third level, get God into the mix and tell someone, “Thank you for serving the kingdom of God with your talents.” That’s church talk for, “We’re not going to pay you any money for that thing we need you to do, but we are going to thank you in a way that makes it next to impossible to say no. What, you don’t want to serve the kingdom of God?” That’s pretty ridiculous, but sometimes I do the same thing. Instead of asking God for his guidance or praying about where/ what/how he would have me move through a situation, I throw him a little advance appreciation. “God, thank you for blessing this book. Thank you for allowing me to sell more copies than The Shack. Thank you for allowing me to become the first Christian author to ever host Saturday Night Live. Thank you for all of that.”” [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thank‑you‑in‑advance tactics manipulate compliance by creating a sense of obligation before agreement. **In simple terms:** Pre‑emptive thanks pressure people to comply. Key Takeaway Recognize and resist manipulative gratitude. Themes communication psychology manipulation ethics workplace dynamics Mood cautious reflective assertive Type advice psychological professional When to use this quote - email requests - project assignments - volunteering - team collaboration - negotiations Key Concepts social influence obedience reciprocity principle boundary setting Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt pressured by a “thanks in advance”? - How can you set clear boundaries politely? 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Yeah,I know another extended year and another figure added to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aarun-kumar-thakur/hiiiii-one-and-all-thank-you-for-all-your-blessing-birthday-greetings/) [Aarun Kumar Thakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aarun-kumar-thakur/) > [Being thankful and saying thanks are two habits of people who've discovered what it means to succeed in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-urban/being-thankful-and-saying-thanks-are-two-habits-of-people-who-ve/) [Hal Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-urban/) > [“Saying thanks to the world, and acknowledging your own accomplishments, is a great way to feel good and stay positive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-robins/saying-thanks-to-the-world-and-acknowledging-your-own-accomplishments/) [Rachel Robins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-robins/) > [Saying thank you to the person who makes your life miserable is the way of saying thanks to the Lord for the strength in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/saying-thank-you-to-the-person-who-makes-your-life-miserable-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is just my way of saying thanks for raising my mom/dad-and then doing it again with me! Happy Grandparents Day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-just-my-way-of-saying-thanks-for-raising-my-mom-dad-and-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why should we give God thanks? Because everything we have comes from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/why-should-we-give-god-thanks-because-everything-we-have-comes-from/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/you-turned-my-wailing-into-dancing-you-removed-my-sackcloth-and/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Sometimes I just look up, smile and say, I know that was you God! thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-just-look-up-smile-and-say-i-know-that-was-you-god-thanks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Lord God we give thanks to you for all the good things you have bestowed upon us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/lord-god-we-give-thanks-to-you-for-all-the-good-things-you-have/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Dear God, Thanks for everything. Because without you...I'm nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-god-thanks-for-everything-because-without-you-i-m-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dear God, thanks for being there when no one else was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myah/dear-god-thanks-for-being-there-when-no-one-else-was/) [Myah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myah/) > [Dear God, thanks for this beautiful life and please forgive me if I don't love it enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-god-thanks-for-this-beautiful-life-and-please-forgive-me-if-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jonathan Acuff > [“Pastors are starting to get wily. When people tell my friend, 'I'm not being fed,' he replies, 'I'm prefectly happy to spoon feed my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/pastors-are-starting-to-get-wily-when-people-tell-my-friend-i-m-not/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“90 percent perfect and shared with the world always changes more lives than 100 percent perfect and stuck in your head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/90-percent-perfect-and-shared-with-the-world-always-changes-more/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“I know sometimes it's scary to think that you might do the wrong thing. It's terrifying to imagine wasting your "one shot". But let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/i-know-sometimes-it-s-scary-to-think-that-you-might-do-the-wrong/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“God is an early bird; satan is a night owl. Everyone knows that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/god-is-an-early-bird-satan-is-a-night-owl-everyone-knows-that/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“More often than not, finding out what you love doing most is about recovering an old love or an inescapable truth that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/more-often-than-not-finding-out-what-you-love-doing-most-is-about/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“We started seeing motion as a sign of success and transition as a sign of progress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/we-started-seeing-motion-as-a-sign-of-success-and-transition-as-a/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“I don't want you to wake up at sixty-five and realize, 'I spend forty of my best years doing something that just funded my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/i-don-t-want-you-to-wake-up-at-sixty-five-and-realize-i-spend-forty/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“Burn your dream bright. Pursue it with the best of who you are. But don't confuse hustle with burnout. Hustle fills you up. Burnout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/burn-your-dream-bright-pursue-it-with-the-best-of-who-you-are-but-don/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“Quitting a job doesn't jump-start a dream because dreams take planning, purpose, and progress to succeed. That stuff has to happen before you quit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/quitting-a-job-doesn-t-jump-start-a-dream-because-dreams-take/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“Your dream might not be as extreme as Bono's, but like him you may meet yours before you're ready to run after it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/your-dream-might-not-be-as-extreme-as-bono-s-but-like-him-you-may/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“When you keep your day job, all opportunities become surplus propositions rather than deficit remedies. You only have to take the ones that suit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/when-you-keep-your-day-job-all-opportunities-become-surplus/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“If I miss a goal, which sometimes happens when you set huge ones, I want the reassurance that I did everything I in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/if-i-miss-a-goal-which-sometimes-happens-when-you-set-huge-ones-i/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“…And then you get some jerk for a boss. And you think, 'I wish God was my boss. That would be awesome. He wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/and-then-you-get-some-jerk-for-a-boss-and-you-think-i-wish-god-was-my/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“I know it sounds crazy, but people with jobs tend to have more creative freedom than people without.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/i-know-it-sounds-crazy-but-people-with-jobs-tend-to-have-more/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) > [“Conversations, much like Saturday Night Live skits, are often difficult to end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/conversations-much-like-saturday-night-live-skits-are-often-difficult/) [Jonathan Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) [Explore all 22 Jonathan Acuff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/) ## More Asking god quotes > [The seeker asking, Where is God? Is really God saying, Where indeed is the seeker!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/the-seeker-asking-where-is-god-is-really-god-saying-where-indeed-is/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [“Donald Grey Barnhouse was one who set an example of combining gospel preaching with humble prayer. He often could be found in the sanctuary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-phillips/donald-grey-barnhouse-was-one-who-set-an-example-of-combining-gospel/) [Richard D. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) > [We need never refrain from asking anything of God simply on the ground that we think it impossible. God specializes in "impossible" things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-eugene-simcox/we-need-never-refrain-from-asking-anything-of-god-simply-on-the/) [Carroll Eugene Simcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-eugene-simcox/) > [“The point which we consider it our duty to note is, that outside of and beyond his faith, as it were, the Bishop possessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-point-which-we-consider-it-our-duty-to-note-is-that-outside-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [3 2 = one heart praying 4 you. 1 + 1= two eyes looking for you. 3+2= five senses missing you. 4+3= seven days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/3-2-one-heart-praying-4-you-1-1-two-eyes-looking-for-you-3-2-five/) [Azgraybebly Joslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azgraybebly-joslan/) > [“You’ve been tested.’ He advised me to try and ‘forgive and pardon, and this way seek to become beloved by God’ without my forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/you-ve-been-tested-he-advised-me-to-try-and-forgive-and-pardon-and/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [Don't waste time asking God to keep you from doing things. Don't do them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/don-t-waste-time-asking-god-to-keep-you-from-doing-things-don-t-do/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I love my real bitches , fuck the fake hoes. I be asking god , why you even make those .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabolous/i-love-my-real-bitches-fuck-the-fake-hoes-i-be-asking-god-why-you/) [Fabolous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabolous/) > [“What you are asking God to do will induce a major impact on your life. That major impact cannot happen with minor faith. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-l-thompson/what-you-are-asking-god-to-do-will-induce-a-major-impact-on-your-life/) [V.L. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-l-thompson/) > [Many times in our lives we have to make difficult decisions that will affect not only our lives, but the lives of others around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-maynard/many-times-in-our-lives-we-have-to-make-difficult-decisions-that-will/) [Gene Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-maynard/) > [As a non believer I don't get the idea of asking god for things via prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/as-a-non-believer-i-don-t-get-the-idea-of-asking-god-for-things-via/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) > [“Sometimes, you have to shot block a friend's prayer because she's asking God to bless an obviously bad dating relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-shot-block-a-friend-s-prayer-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking God to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/i-used-to-ask-god-to-help-me-then-i-asked-if-i-might-help-him-i-ended/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [For many people, God is a frightening idea. Asking God for help doesn't seem very comforting if we think of Him as something outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/for-many-people-god-is-a-frightening-idea-asking-god-for-help-doesn-t/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/have-you-been-asking-god-what-he-is-going-to-do-he-will-never-tell/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Browse all 123 Asking god quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“TELLING GOD, “THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION.” I love when people thank me for doing something I haven’t done yet. They’ll send me an email, ask me to work on a project, and then end the message by saying, “Thanks in advance for your cooperation.” Ohh, that is tricky. That bold move is designed to force my hand, to make me sit there and think, “Well they already thanked me for doing it. I suppose I should in fact do it.” Even better though is when there is a condition of speed applied to the request. “Thank you for doing this so quickly,” or, “I really appreciate your quick turnaround.” That’s two levels of trickery. Not only have I not agreed to do it, but I certainly haven’t agreed to do it quickly. If you want to add a third level, get God into the mix and tell someone, “Thank you for serving the kingdom of God with your talents.” That’s church talk for, “We’re not going to pay you any money for that thing we need you to do, but we are going to thank you in a way that makes it next to impossible to say no. What, you don’t want to serve the kingdom of God?” That’s pretty ridiculous, but sometimes I do the same thing. Instead of asking God for his guidance or praying about where/ what/how he would have me move through a situation, I throw him a little advance appreciation. “God, thank you for blessing this book. Thank you for allowing me to sell more copies than The Shack. Thank you for allowing me to become the first Christian author to ever host Saturday Night Live. Thank you for all of that.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Acuff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-cooperation-i-love-when-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asking god" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-cooperation-i-love-when-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/jonathan-acuff-25875_asking-god_telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-c_2438110.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/jonathan-acuff-25875_asking-god_telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-c_2438110.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa5/jonathan-acuff-25875_asking-god_telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-c_2438110.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“TELLING GOD, “THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION.” I love when people thank me for doing something I…” — Jonathan Acuff", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jonathan Acuff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-acuff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“TELLING GOD, “THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-cooperation-i-love-when-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-acuff/telling-god-thanks-in-advance-for-your-cooperation-i-love-when-people/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```