The Art Of Thank You Hezekiah Series

These two words have the power to create a positive environment around us if they come from the heart. It’s really a condition of your heart – it’s the difference between a heart filled with gratitude and love and a heart filled with self-centeredness and entitlement!

T.S. - What does your heart look like – Grateful or Hateful?

I. The truth is a lot of powerful things happen when we sincerely say “Thank You!”

a. The most obvious is you feel good about yourself because of thoughtfulness to another but it goes deeper than that – it impacts our spiritual realm!

i. The Thanker:

1. Produces a positive emotional state from within!

2. Increases a sense of well being that life is good!

3. Triggers ‘feel good’ hormones that make you feel good!

4. Re-enforces the virtuous cycle in your brain of doing kind things for others!

ii. The Thankee:

1. Feels higher levels of self-worth from this kind act of gratitude.

2. Triggers a greater desire to help the Thanker and others.

3. Triggers helpful behaviors toward others.

4. Appreciates being needed and recognized for their contribution to life.

5. Feels more socially valued by the person and by others.

b. Let’s ponder a moment some quotes on Thankfulness:

i. Rosie Cash: “Just a ‘Thank You’ is a mighty powerful prayer. Says it all!”

ii. William Arthur Ward: “God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “Thank You!”

iii. Harry Ironside: “We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.”

iv. Ralph Marston: Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it.

1. Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/thank_you.html

T.S. - Let’s look at the Art of “Thank You” from scripture when a king thanked the Lord for his healing, his nations protection and for another 15 years of life:

2. King Hezekiah and the art of “Thank You” with God

a. Scripture Text: Isaiah 38:1-21 -- Hezekiah’s Illness

i. 1In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” 2Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3“Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 5“Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city. 7“‘This is the LORD’s sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: 8I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down. 9A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:10I said, “In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be robbed of the rest of my years?”11I said, “I will not again see the LORD, the LORD, in the land of the living; no longer will I look on mankind, or be with those who now dwell in this world.12Like a shepherd’s tent my house has been pulled down and taken from me. Like a weaver I have rolled up my life, and he has cut me off from the loom; day and night you made an end of me.13I waited patiently till dawn, but like a lion he broke all my bones; day and night you made an end of me.14I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!”15But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul.16Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live.17Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. 18For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.19The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness. 20The LORD will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD. 21Isaiah had said, “Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.”