How Do You Cultivate A Heart Of Gratitude When You Are A Cynic Series

How to Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude

Psalm 103:1-5

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

11-29-2020

Grumpstaking?

I recently came across an article written by Allison Hope. After I share her thoughts, you will see the irony of her name.

She makes the case that 2020 is not worthy of thanksgiving. After recognizing that she does have much to theoretically to be thankful for, she writes:

“And yet. I am incapable of feeling the joy that has, for every Thanksgiving prior to 2020, accompanied me to the homes of friends and family. There will be no road trips, no extended family hugs, no old friends in town visiting and reminiscing over a tall cold one, no spontaneous moments featuring new characters. This year is all plot twists without the comic relief.

I have landed in a new place this year, one where it's perfectly acceptable to want people to take their gratitude and shove it up this year's pathetically small turkey cavity.

Yes, I retain the right to feel full-on Scrooge this year, and I invite you to join me.”

She ends her sad rant with these words:

“In the spirit of Festivus for the rest of us, and celebrating the anti-holiday to air grievances rather than pleasantries, I hereby rename Thanksgiving 2020 "Grumpstaking," whereby we allow ourselves to feel whatever range of negative emotions we feel like feeling without the pressure to proclaim all that we're grateful for. Don’t worry, you can eat all the pie.”

Her last name might be hope but she sure doesn’t seem to have much hope this Thanksgiving, does she?

If you want to know the truth, I understand her cynicism completely. I recently heard a pastor describe himself as an “extraverted Eeyore.”

Some people are optimists. They see the glass as half full.

Some people are pessimists. They see the glass as half empty.

Then there are those of us who are cynics. We think, knowing 2020, the glass is probably going fall, break, and cut an artery causing us to bleed to death.

I have to fight my cynicism. Maxine helps me with that. And spending time in God’s Word helps me as well.

Is Allison Hope correct? Should we just grumble instead of giving thanks for a year that seems to be the gift that keeps on giving?

This morning, I want to make the case that we have a LOT to be thankful for, even in this ridiculous year. And it is good for our souls to express our gratitude to a God that is the fount of every blessing.

How do we cultivate a heart of gratitude?

Turn with me to Psalm 103.

Prayer

Psalm 103 in context

Psalm 103 is one of David’s praise poems. There is no requests, no prayers, no danger, and no enemies. There is no historical event associated with this psalm.

It is a part of of a group of four psalms of praise that end Book 4 of the Psalter.

One writer has called it David’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Charles Spurgeon wrote that Psalm 103 was a “Bible within itself” and it contains “too much for a thousand pens to write.”

I would like to read these verses to you and have you stand, if you are able, to honor God’s Word.

[slide] “Praise the Lord, my soul;

    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

    and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

    and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5)

Within these verses, I want us to discover 6 different reasons for which we can express our gratitude to God this weekend.

A Conversation with Myself

Maxine and I are now empty nesters. It’s been an interesting adjustment. There are times we when have to ask each other, “Are you talking to me or yourself…or the dog?”

We all talk to ourselves. In fact, we talk to ourselves more than we talk to any else.

Many of us are harder on ourselves and talk to ourselves in ways we would never talk to others.

We need to make sure that when we are feeling cynical that we remind ourselves of all the things we have to be thankful for.

That’s our David starts out this psalm. By talking truth to himself:

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.” (v. 1)

We are not sure what was going on in David’s life, but he felt the need to remind himself to praise the Lord.

The word praise means to “bless,” or “kneel,” and it carries with a strong affection coupled with gratitude.

He commands himself to praise the “Lord.” This is the covenant name of God and means the “existing One,” or “the I Am.”