Introduction

Good morning, everyone. It's a blessing to be here.

Today, we gather under the banner of hope. Hope that fills our hearts. Hope that lights our path. Hope that's found in God.

We turn our hearts to a verse from the book of Psalms. Psalms 95:2. It says,

"Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song."

This is our guide today. Our North Star. We're going to talk about gratitude. About recognizing God's deeds. About living a life filled with thanksgiving. Not just on the good days. Not just when the sun is shining. But every day. In every season.

G.K. Chesterton once said, "When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude."

This is our call today. To take things with gratitude. To see God's hand in our lives. To sing his praises. To live with thanksgiving. We're not going to rush through this. We're going to take our time. We're going to let these truths sink in. We're going to let them change us.

So, let's pray.

God, we thank you for today. We thank you for your Word. We thank you for your love. Help us to see your hand in our lives. Help us to live with gratitude. Help us to sing your praises. In Jesus' name, amen.

This is our prayer today. This is our hope. This is our call.

So, let's get started. Let's talk about gratitude. Let's talk about recognizing God's deeds. Let's talk about living with thanksgiving. Are you ready? Let's go.

Recognizing God's Deeds

When we wake up each morning, we are greeted by the sun. Its warm rays touch our faces, reminding us of the new day that has been gifted to us. This is not a random occurrence. It is a daily reminder of the Creator's love for us. The same God who set the sun in the sky is the same God who cares for us. He is the same God who provides for us. He is the same God who loves us. Recognizing these daily blessings is the first step towards living a life of gratitude.

More examples: The sun is just one example. There are countless others. The air we breathe. The food we eat. The people we love. All of these are gifts from God. All of these are reminders of His love for us. All of these are reasons to be grateful. But it's not just about the big things. It's also about the small things. The smile of a stranger. The laughter of a child. The beauty of a flower. These are all gifts from God. These are all reminders of His love for us. These are all reasons to be grateful.

Recognizing God's deeds is not always easy: Sometimes, it requires us to slow down. To pause. To reflect. It requires us to look beyond the surface. To see the hand of God in our lives. It requires us to be mindful. To be present. To be grateful.

The Scripture reminds us of this: It tells us to come before God with thanksgiving. To extol Him with music and song. This is not just a command. It is an invitation. An invitation to recognize God's deeds. An invitation to live a life of gratitude.

But how do we do this? How do we recognize God's deeds? How do we live a life of gratitude? The Scripture provides us with some guidance.

First: We need to be mindful. We need to be present. We need to be aware. We need to pay attention to the world around us. We need to notice the sun in the sky. We need to appreciate the air we breathe. We need to savor the food we eat. We need to cherish the people we love. We need to be mindful of the small things. The smile of a stranger. The laughter of a child. The beauty of a flower. All of these are gifts from God. All of these are reasons to be grateful.

Second: we need to be thankful. We need to express our gratitude. We need to say thank you. We need to say it to God. We need to say it to others. We need to say it to ourselves. We need to make gratitude a habit. A daily practice. A way of life.

Third: We need to be generous. We need to share our blessings. We need to give to others. We need to serve others. We need to love others. We need to follow the example of Jesus. The one who gave His life for us. The one who showed us what it means to love. The one who showed us what it means to be grateful.

Fourth: We need to be humble. We need to recognize that all we have is a gift from God. We need to acknowledge that we are not the source of our blessings. We need to admit that we are not in control. We need to surrender to God. We need to trust in Him. We need to rely on Him. We need to be humble.

Expressing Gratitude

As we continue to navigate the path of gratitude, we find ourselves drawn to the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO