Introduction

Good morning, friends! It's so good to see all of you here today. We're going to be talking about something that's as natural as breathing, but sometimes, we forget about it. It's gratitude.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Gratitude? Sure, I say thanks for my food and when someone holds the door open for me." But friends, I'm talking about a deeper kind of thankfulness. A gratitude that's so deep in our hearts that it becomes a part of who we are.

You see, being thankful isn't just about saying the words. It's about feeling it in our hearts and showing it in our actions. And it's not just for the big things. It's for the small blessings too. In fact, it's in the small things where we often find the most joy.

The great Christian author, G.K. Chesterton, once said, "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." Isn't that a beautiful thought? That our thanks are the highest form of thought. And that our gratitude can double our happiness.

Let's take a look at the Scripture for today. In Psalm 100, it says, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

And in Psalm 116, it says, "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: 'Lord, save me!'"

And finally, in I Thessalonians 5:16-18, it says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

What a powerful message, right? We're called to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. Not just in the good times, but in the hard times too.

Being Thankful to the Lord

When we think about our lives and all that we have, it's clear that we owe everything to the Lord. He is the one who created us, who sustains us, and who provides for us. Every breath we take, every beat of our heart, is a gift from Him. And so, it's only right that we should be thankful to Him.

This thankfulness isn't just about saying "thank you" when something good happens. It's about recognizing that everything we have comes from Him. It's about acknowledging His goodness and His love for us. And it's about living our lives in a way that shows our gratitude.

In the Scripture, we see this idea of thankfulness again and again. In Psalm 100, we're told to "enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise." This isn't just a command for when we're in church. It's a command for our everyday lives. We're to live with a spirit of thankfulness, always ready to give thanks to God for His goodness.

But what does this look like in practice? How do we live a life of thankfulness?

Firstly, we need to make thankfulness a habit. This isn't something that comes naturally to us. We're often quick to complain and slow to give thanks. But the more we practice thankfulness, the more natural it becomes. We can start by thanking God for the simple things in our lives - for the food we eat, for the air we breathe, for the people who love us. As we do this, we'll start to see His hand in everything, and our hearts will overflow with gratitude.

Secondly, we need to thank God in all circumstances. This can be hard, especially when we're going through tough times. But even in the midst of hardship, there are always things to be thankful for. Maybe it's the support of a friend, or the comfort of a warm bed. Maybe it's the beauty of a sunset, or the sound of birds singing. Whatever it is, we can thank God for it. And as we do, we'll find that our circumstances don't seem quite so overwhelming.

Thirdly, we need to thank God for who He is. It's easy to thank God for what He does for us, but it's just as important to thank Him for who He is. He is our Creator, our Sustainer, our Redeemer. He is love, He is goodness, He is truth. When we thank God for who He is, we're acknowledging His character and His nature. And this leads us to a deeper understanding of Him and a deeper love for Him.

Lastly, we need to thank God for what He's going to do. This is perhaps the hardest part of thankfulness. It's easy to thank God for the past and the present, but it's harder to thank Him for the future. But when we trust in God, we can be confident that He has good things in store for us. We can thank Him in advance for His provision, His guidance, His protection. And as we do, we'll find that our faith grows and our trust in Him deepens.

Acknowledging His Deeds

In the midst of our gratitude, we find ourselves drawn to the deeds of our Heavenly Father ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO