Thanksgivng 2022

The NET Bible 1 Thessalonians 5:14

admonish

Gratitude:

Psalm 100 (NET)

A thanksgiving psalm.

Shout out praises to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with joy! Enter his presence with joyful singing! Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give him thanks! Praise his name! For the Lord is good. His loyal love endures, and he is faithful through all generations.

1 Thessalonians 5:15–18 NET

See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

It’s Thanksgiving Week 2022.

I couldn’t let this week go by without giving you guys a little dose of Gratitude.

The scriptures are FULL of commands for us to give thanks and offer gratitude to God.

We are taught that of all the people of the earth, those of us who are God’s children should be marked by Gratitude.

It should literally pour out of us like Living Waters.

That sounds wonderful, but for practical purposes, it’s not an attitude that we see often from others.

We are as likely to experience gratitude from someone who is outside of Jesus as we are to experience it from someone who is our brother or sister in Christ.

Gratitude should not be something that we practice annually, but daily.

But I’m getting ahead of my own thoughts here.

Let’s define Gratitude first.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary says that gratitude is a state of Thankfulness or being grateful.

That still seems a bit vague for me.

I see gratitude as a thankful appreciation for something we have acknowledged we received, either tangible or intangible, externally or internally.

It’s an acknowledgement that something good has happen to us..or for us... and that the source of that goodness is outside of ourselves.

It’s an expression of thankfulness towards that source of goodness and when done properly done helps us connect with that something or someone greater than ourselves in a tangible way.

Gratitude is a mindfulness that whatever comes our way and regardless of circumstances, be it joyful or in sorrow, God is for us, not against us and he gives good gifts to all mankind, even those who fail to acknowledge him.

We are told repeatedly to offer thanksgiving and show gratitude to God and to the casual onlooker that may seem arrogant and haughty of God to even ask for such a thing.

Come On, admit it, you’ve thought this before. I know I have.

But what if I told you that by teaching us to offer gratitude, God was doing one of the most kind and loving things he could do for us?

What if we’ve been thinking “How arrogant of God to demanding thanksgiving!” and all the while misjudging his heart the whole time?

What if we were asked to offer thanksgiving was so we might be whole and filled with Joy?

What if that practice of thanksgiving was in and of itself a tremendous, loving gift that we have overlooked and failed to understand?

What if gratitude is a spiritual law that has as much affect on our humanity as gravity does?

In the past decade numerous studies have been done by Dr’s from many different colleges and institutions on the affects of gratitude on the human mind and body.

Studies like the studies done by Dr Robert a. Emmons from the University of California, Davis-a college that is hardly a bastion of christian thinking.

Dr Emmons states the following

We’ve studied more than one thousand people, from ages eight to 80, and found that people who practice gratitude consistently report a host of benefits: 

Physical

Stronger immune systems

Less bothered by aches and pains

Lower blood pressure

Exercise more and take better care of their health

Sleep longer and feel more refreshed upon waking

Psychological

Higher levels of positive emotions

More alert, alive, and awake

More joy and pleasure

More optimism and happiness

Social

More helpful, generous, and compassionate

More forgiving

More outgoing

Feel less lonely and isolated.

Dr Emmons says “The social benefits are especially significant here because, after all, gratitude is a social emotion. I see it as a relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.”

Other studies have shown that gratitude unshackles us from toxic emotions,

re-wires our brain to be more aware and present in the moment and to enjoy the moments we are in.

Promotes higher self-esteem

Makes us more generous and giving towards others.

Suppresses Selfish behavior.

Promotes feelings of love towards others and builds stronger relationships.

True gratitude doesn’t deny difficult circumstances. It instead refocuses our attention to something worthy of appreciation even in the midsts of struggles.

Gratitude has been clinically proven to build emotional and mentally resiliency and GRIT in a person, which has the power to sustain them when the dark times come.

How many of the ills of our society today could be eradicated by the simple practice of gratitude?

It seems gratitude holds the key to sustainable joy-regardless of our circumstances.

WOW!! What a powerful gift we receive when we offer gratitude.

If we are wired to receive all these benefits from simply practicing gratitude towards others, how much more could we receive and enjoy... if the focus of our gratitude was on the One who wired us this way to start with?

I challenge you today to take this Holiday season from now till New Years Day and each day write down a paragraph or two of gratitude.

Journal your gratitude to God and offering him thanks from a heart that has truly taken the time to be grateful.

Write a letter to your wife, thanking her for all how she has blessed you and express your gratitude for all she does for you.

Write a letter to your kids, thanking them for how they have filled our life with joy and happiness.

Write a letter to your parents, to your siblings, to a Mentor a close brother or sister in Christ or your Pastor.

There are 40 days from this day till New Years.

Give yourself the gift of Gratitude and perhaps learn to carry a daily practice of this into 2023.

You may find it to be the greatest year of your life if you do.

Allow the Holy Spirit to change your heart around the practice of gratitude and worship this Holiday Season and see the gratitude we are encouraged to offer God in a different light.

Sure, he wants our gratitude and he honors it, but not because he needs it, rather because we do.... and because he loves us.

He knows that when we offer him true gratitude our relationship with Him becomes something he truly desires and something we truly long for whether we know it or not.

He becomes Father and we, we begin acting and living like healthy happy, sons and daughters. Kinder towards each other and more loving towards him.

Hmm..isn’t that truly the Spirit of Thanksgiving and the Heart of Christ who is still the reason for this season.

Happy Thanksgiving and am truly grateful for you all.

Here’s praying God’s favor and blessings upon you and yours this Holiday season