Let’s open our Bibles together to Matthew chapter 6. Tonight, we start a new series of messages called “Developing a Thankful Heart”. Why does God say we should give thanks in all circumstances? What motivates the followers of Christ to be thankful in all circumstances? How should I practice the discipline of giving thanks in all circumstances? These are the questions that we will ask and answer in this new series.
The Bible is filled with commands to give thanks to God. Colossians 3:17 says: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” This verse tells us that the followers of Christ should express their gratitude to God constantly in their speech and through their actions. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says: “In everything give
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Why is giving thanks to God important? Think for a moment about the reason God gives us commands. Whenever God gives us a command, it is for our benefit. This principle is clearly emphasized when God gave the Ten Commandants. In Deuteronomy 5 we read that when God gave the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel, they promised to obey all that God said. The Lord was pleased with their response and then God said in verse 29, “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!” The reason God gives us commands is not to limit our freedom but to increase our happiness. The command to always give thanks is God’s way of bringing fulfillment to our lives. What are the benefits of having a thankful heart? Giving thanks to God helps us to become unselfish and confident. Paul highlights this in Philippians 4:5-7: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
...e toward him as well, since at one point he felt he deserved to die for what he had done. This grace gives him a purpose and strength to go on living, even though he may never completely overcome the hurt and pain.
... showed all this and rewarded us so that one day we would be notice his kindness. The Christian is made alive in God and does good works for him. He does this to show his everlasting grace to everyone.
In the first section of his book (What You Have Received as Gift, Give as Gift) really make an impact on my views on living a fulfilled life. Everyone has a purpose and a gift on this life and everyone should know that they are somebody and everyone should know this to fulfill a good life. Everyone should work together and use our strengths to help others. God gave all of us a different and unique talent or gift and we should place that gift on others as God has done to us. When we showcase our gifts and talents, we should be grateful and show humility. We should not gloat our talents, but instead help others in order to gain a better understanding of others and the world around us. As Gula says “Gratitude is the virtue that gladly recognizes everything we have received as gifts to be shared, not possessions to be hoarded. Gratitude remembers, too, that God is the giver of these gifts” (Gula 30). My view on this is that gratitude and humility are one of the core values on living the good life because we can use these talents to gain understanding of our own self and others around us. Like God, we can use our gifts to also gain companionship, which God believes to be in reaching a good
...ot worry about anything; instead pray about everything, tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done (4.6). Experiencing God’s peace, exceed all understanding. His peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ (4.7).
Jesus took what they had, gave thanks for it, and fed four thousand men with leftovers. Of course, this may not have been solely on the fact that He gave thanks, but would it have been possible if He had not? Christians believe that God is the provider of everything. When something is given to somebody, one naturally shows his/her appreciation to the person who gave it to them. Saying grace is a gesture of appreciation towards the Christians’ provider.
In an evil world sprinkled with undeserved blessings, humans seem to strive to make sense of why it happens. As a result, it could seem logical that our “real God,” who is powerful and loves us unconditionally, shows grace to those who are obedient to Him. When reading the Old Testament in this context, there are several stories that could help reaffirm the idea of a god who shows his grace to those who seek Him.
When I recognize the state of gratitude in which my heart is enveloped, I immediately embrace the Grace of God! I would never know true gratitude if it were not for God’s grace.
Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank Him for? (Wiesel 31)
Also, how He gives us the things that we ask for, and how He is faithful to the end, and will never leave or forsake you. Therefore, that is the reason we worship Him, because He is worthy of all of our praise, therefore, deserves to be glorified in the highest form of praise, which is, “Hallelujah!” As it states in the Bible, “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God” (Revelation 19:1). We can never fully understand God because our minds cannot comprehend who He is
Giving glory to God teaches us to place our trust in Him during times of conflict, reflecting his presence in our lives (Sande, 2004). We should not only give the glory to God, but also give Him our conflicts and struggles, He wants to lighten our hearts and our minds. How often do we meet God in prayer, turning
“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you and Christ Jesus”. This is just one of the few examples of how Jesus lived and how he lived so gracefully no matter the circumstances. Another example of how he lived is how kind he was to others no matter if they weren't kind to him or if he didn't even know them he was
As Christians, we are to be redemptive agents for God. Just as God showed us grace and mercy. By the sacrifice of his only son, Jesus Christ, and through his blood saved us from our sins. To then be reborn in salvation. We too are responsible to show grace and mercy to our fellow man. In both cases, we are presented with the opportunity to show grace and mercy.
We do not deserve any of the blessings God blesses us with. We, as Christians, fall short all the time. Yet, God continues to bless us, because He is merciful and loving. God loves us despite our faults and flaws. If it was not for God blessing us and keeping us safe, who knows where we would be. The height of God’s favor and protection is demonstrated through the birth and death of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way, truth, and life. He is the perfect example of how to live that’s pleasing to God. Jesus purchased our salvation by giving up His life on the cross for our sins. This alone shows us how we all are favored by God. If we accepted God as our Savior, we are forever favored and protected. A lot of blessings are taken for granted such as the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Other blessings which are often times overlooked is living to see another day, having food to eat, and clothes to wear. The Bible is filled with stories of blessings upon the children of God and unbelievers. I intend to present blessings and how its meaning evolves from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
Jesus has taught me to be thankful for all the blessing I have in life.
There are many important elements that should be included in the prayers we make to God. The most important ones are to believe, ask for forgiveness and to be cleansed of any sins, praise and worship, always be thankful, and be specific with your prayers. In key terms, they are called: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. These are the most proper ways to pray to God and will make your prayers even more meaningful.