The Discipline of Gratitude

The Transformative Power of Thankfulness

Introduction

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

My mother still does this today during thanksgiving dinner

She has everyone go around the table and express what they are grateful for this year.

It’s common for each individual to pause and contemplate what they are thankful for

as if it hard to find things to be grateful for.

When it comes to Holidays sometimes it’s hard to express gratitude.

Maybe you’ve had a hard year…

Maybe you’ve lost a loved one

Maybe politics has created a divide in your family

Maybe your family is just hard to deal with

We can often think of more reasons to dread when it comes to the holidays than things we can be grateful for…

What we often fail to realize is that biblically gratitude is a discipline more than a passive emotion determined by external circumstances.

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

This verse directly commands continual thankfulness, making it foundational for cultivating gratitude as a spiritual discipline.

2. Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

This verse ties gratitude to every action and word, showing that it should be a constant, intentional practice.

3. Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

This verse highlights the importance of thankfulness in prayer, even amidst challenges, reinforcing gratitude as a habit of trust.

“4 Ways to Cultivate Gratitude When It’s Difficult”

CONTEXT

Psalm 107:1-43

The Babylonian exile occurred in 586 B.C. when the Babylonians, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, taking many Israelites into captivity.

• The return from exile began around 538 B.C. after King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon and issued a decree allowing the Israelites to return to their homeland (Ezra 1:1–4).

Psalm 107

celebrates God’s deliverance and faithfulness in restoring His people from exile,

But this message of redemption and deliverance is not limited to this specific event.

It applies to all instances where God rescues His people from distress.

When gratitude feels hard, remembering God’s past deliverance reminds us of His constant grace.

1. Reminding ourselves of God's Deliverance gives us a grateful heart.

Psalm 107:1–9 “1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; 5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. 6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. 8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”

“In this passage, God is delivering His people from distress, satisfying their needs, and guiding them to safety, showcasing His steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Recalling God's faithfulness and goodness is foundational for practicing gratitude.

God has done more than just delivering us from an earthly exile.

Through Jesus God has delivered us from an eternal exile.

Illustration (Magnifying Glass)

Gratitude in a lot of ways is like a magnifying glass.

What we focus on grows

When we begin to magnify Jesus’s deliverance in our lives, we begin to amplify his saving grace in our lives.

In moments when gratitude is hard:

Magnify the length that Jesus went to rescue us from our sin.

1. Left Heaven’s Glory: Jesus left His divine throne to take on human form (Philippians 2:6–7).

2. Lived a Sinless Life: He endured temptation yet remained without sin to be the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 4:15).

3. Suffered Rejection: He was despised, mocked, and rejected by His own people (Isaiah 53:3).

4. Endured the Cross: He bore the physical and spiritual agony of crucifixion, taking the punishment for our sins (1 Peter 2:24).

5. Conquered Death: He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death to give us eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:55–57).

6. Intercedes for Us: He now sits at the right hand of God, continually interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

It’s hard to be ungrateful when we see how much Jesus loves us

2. Reminding ourselves of God’s kindness despite our foolishness gives us a grateful heart.

Psalm 107:10–22“10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. 12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. 15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 16 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron. 17 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 22 And let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and tell of his deeds in songs of joy”

“This passage explains that God demonstrates His incredible kindness by providing redemption and guidance despite the foolishness and waywardness of his people.”

We are often no different

1. We Sometimes Chase Temporary Pleasures: Prioritizing materialism, entertainment, or fleeting pleasures over eternal values (Ecclesiastes 2:1–11).

2. We sometimes neglectGod’s Word: Ignoring or dismissing Scripture as a guide for life, leading to poor decisions (Proverbs 14:12).

3. We sometimes Trust in Ourselves: Relying on our own understanding instead of seeking God’s wisdom (Proverbs 3:5–6).

4. We sometimes Ignore God’s Commands: Knowing what God requires but choosing to follow our own desires (James 4:17).

5. We sometimes Fall into Pride: Believing we don’t need God, which blinds us to our dependence on Him (Proverbs 16:18).

6. We sometimes Reject Accountability: Avoiding correction or wise counsel, leading to repeated mistakes (Proverbs 12:15).

7. We sometimes are Spiritually Apathetic: Focusing on worldly concerns while neglecting prayer, worship, and relationship with God (Revelation 3:15–16).

But our shortcomings to do not change the way God feels about us.

Illustration: (First Car accident)

One Saturday I was working with my dad helping him clear some property.

At the end of the day he told it was okay to go home he would be right behind me

My brother and I jumped in my truck

We came to an intersection on a hwy a lot like 394.

I thought I saw the car in front of me go

Without paying attention I gunned it and slammed into the back of her.

It was my first car accident:

Called a police officer

Checked on the woman in her car

I knew my dad would be rolling up right behind me.

I had knots in my stomach because I could only imagine his anger.

When my dad got there

he got out the car hugged me

Told me it was going to be ok

I’ll never forget the grace my father showed me that morning

We have a God who does the same thing.

When we are foolish and make mistakes we have a God who will meet us in the midst of those moments with compassion.

God’s kindness should lead us to having a grateful heart.

3. Reminding ourselves of God’s authority and power gives us a grateful heart.

Psalm 107:23–32 “23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; 24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. 25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. 26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; 27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.”

“In this passage, God demonstrates His supreme authority and power by commanding the storm, calming the seas, and delivering His people to safety.

What we see in this passage is the peace and courage found during life's storms.

By trusting in God's control, we can remain thankful even in trials.

Jesus calming the storm provides a clear picture of His sovereign peace.

Embracing gratitude acknowledges Christ's presence in our challenges,

It encouraging us to maintain a thankful heart as a testament of faith.

God has not left to our own devises in the midst of trials but he continues to play a daily role in our lives.

When life feels out of our control we can express gratitude because we know that it is not out of God’s control.

4. Reminding ourselves that God disciplines us but he will never leave us gives us a grateful heart.

Psalm 107:33–43 “33 He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, 34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. 35 He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. 36 And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; 37 they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. 38 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish. 39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, 40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”

“In this passage, God demonstrates His sovereignty through discipline and His steadfast love by restoring and blessing the needy, reminding us of His faithfulness even in hardship.”

God will never leave us but instead he will exercise grace through discipline.

Catie is a potter:

It always amazes me how she can take a lump of clay and create something beautiful out of it.

As she molds a lump she is forcing into position to turn it into something beautiful

We are clay in the hands of God

The process of him shaping us can often feel uncomfortable

He makes our rough edges smooth

but it is essential to make us into something beautiful

God disciplines is his grace in action

shaping our lives to reflect his glory.

The hard things that we face is not God being mean but he is shaping us to make us more like Jesus

LANDING

“When it feels like we have nothing to be grateful for, we can cultivate gratitude as a discipline by focusing on the unchanging truth that Jesus has given us more than we could ever deserve through His love, grace, and sacrifice.”