Gratitude First: Noland Law Firm
Jan 14, 2026 01:39PM ● By Jen Gennaro
Local attorney Erik Noland begins every prayer the same way: with thanks.
Before the requests, before the worries, before the decisions, he pauses to acknowledge what’s already been given. Gratitude, he says, has a way of shifting your mood, widening your perspective, and sometimes even changing what you’re about to ask for in the first place.
“I give thanks that even though I’m undeserving and fall short, God continues to bless me and my family,” Noland says. It’s a practice he’s come to rely on, especially on days when clarity feels just out of reach.
His faith is intentional, rooted in a lesson from his pastor stuck with him years ago: don’t pray generally, pray specifically. So Noland does. He prays for people by name, for decisions that weigh heavy, for his children. He even prays now for their future spouses and that whoever they one day meet is being raised with strong values and care.That same intentional prayer life carried him through one of the biggest decisions of his career.
A few years ago, Noland found himself at a crossroads, discerning whether to leave the security of an established firm and step out on his own. The risks were real, and the stakes were both professional and personal.
“I asked for guidance and wisdom, not for my sake, but for my family’s,” he says. His prayers were about doing what was best for the people who depended on him.
Taking that leap of faith to launch his own practice, first in Baton Rouge, and then to Zachary in 2025, remains one of the most meaningful decisions of his life. “It was the best decision I ever made,” he says, “other than marrying my beautiful wife.”
For Noland, success isn’t measured only by professional milestones, but by faithfulness. By showing up with gratitude, praying with purpose, and by trusting that when decisions are placed in God’s hands, the path forward will unfold as it should.
