It is a choice. Not just for when everything is going fine. I think it’s much more important when we’re going through hard times.
Matthew Henry, the eighteenth-century Puritan preacher whose Bible commentary remains among the most popular of all time, was once accosted by robbers while living in London.
Perhaps you’ve experienced this yourself—whether by having your car broken into or coming home to discover that your house had been burglarized. It’s among the most unsettling things that can happen to a person. I’m sure it was, as well, for a quiet, thoughtful man of letters like Matthew Henry.
“Let me be thankful, first, because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.”
It’s polar opposite of an entitlement mentality. “That’s not fair!” Is so commonly heard today. It really hit me when Candace was talking a few weeks ago and she said God isn’t fair.
There’s so much in the world that isn’t fair. We have no choice of where we’re born…unfair
Weather patterns vary widely from hurricanes in Florida to earthquakes and mudslides in California to tornadoes in the Midwest. Not to mention some places have drought conditions while others have flooding…unfair.
Then there’s the inequality in peoples learning abilities…unfair.
But the biggest example of something not being fair is salvation. Not one of us deserve forgiveness. The Bible is very clear that the wages of sin is death. If we want fairness that is what we would deserve.
But God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to take our punishment.
“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
This is reason enough to offer undying thanksgiving to God!
GRATITUDE is a matter of obedience
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Prayer is the key that holds this togetherness. It makes us able to rejoice and give thanks.
It doesn’t tell us to give thanks FOR all circumstances. But if we remind ourselves that He is still God and He is still Good and He doesn’t owe us ANYTHING, we can pray and give thanks!
“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.” Psalms 50:14 NLT
“But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them,” Acts 16:25 AMPC
There’s something about giving thanks and praising God in hard times that gets God’s attention and puts the enemy under our feet.
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1:2 NLT
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” Colossians 4:2 NLT
Being Thankful draws us closer to God
When you feel distant from God do an inventory of your thoughts. It’s a time to increase giving thanks.
Look at it as a sacrifice. If you need help, here are some starters
Meditations that will lead to giving thanks:
Think about:
◦ how big God is
◦ how He already existed before creation and He will continue forever, long after time ceases to be.
◦ how tenderly He loves you
◦ how He NEVER CHANGES in a world where change seems to be the only constant
◦ He is El Roi- the God who sees
Remember that what you focus on gets magnified in your mind.
“I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” Psalms 69:30 NKJV
(Google search) When we magnify God, it means we choose to believe He is who He says He is, even if we don't feel like it. On the website desiringgod.org, John Piper writes, “The whole duty of the Christian can be summed up in this: to feel, think, and act in a way that will make God look as great as He really is.”
Remember He sees whatever you’re going through and He wants us to give all that stuff to Him.
“GIVE all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” 1 Peter 5:7 AMPC
“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalms 55:22 NLT
Notice it doesn’t say just tell God about your problems, it says
Give them to Him.
Joyce Meyer says “Cast your cares and leave them there.”
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:3 KJV
“Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” Psalms 22:3 NLT
God dwells in our praises!
Gratitude is a path to peace
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
Prayer + thanksgiving = peace
That’s a promise!
Beth Moore, in her book “Breaking Free” describes how most people live.
Do not be calm about anything, but in everything, by dwelling on it constantly and feeling picked on by God, with thoughts like, “And this is the thanks I get,” present your aggravations to everyone you know but Him. And the acid in your stomach, which transcends all milk products, will cause you an ulcer, and the doctor bills will cause you a heart attack, and you will lose your mind.
If you’re like I am at times you might echo my “ouch” in response to this.
I guess that’s the gift of the Thanksgiving holiday. Like many people make New Year’s resolutions, Thanksgiving can be a yearly opportunity to check our gratitude meter.
I’d like to suggest a gratitude journal. Use this book ONLY for penning things for which you are thankful.
Start a Gratitude Journal (if you haven’t already done so)
Develop a plan move from feeling entitled to giving thanks.
Make your own list of thanksgiving verses for life.
REMINDER: No class next week!