Results of a Thankful Life

Intro

Results. We really like results don’t we? In school we test and hope for good results. When we are sick, we want good results, when we run risk analysis tests we want good results. We are a result driven culture. When we do something, good or bad, we want to know the results so that we can do better next time.

As we have been looking at why and how we should remain a thankful people, take a moment with me today and see what the Scriptures promise will be some results.

Now, like with anything in our spiritual life, these results may not be immediate. They may come when we least expect. They may be slow for various reasons too. We may be in the midst of a test, we may not be ready for these results. Nevertheless, the Bible promises that when we are genuinely thankful to God, we can expect certain things as a result.

In our culture, the results of thankfulness are lacking in many lives, maybe even in yours. Now, the few things we are going to talk about today are the results not only of thankfulness but of a life surrendered to God. A life that, even in the midst of uncertainty can look to God and believe and trust. When we can lean into the mystery of God a little bit, then we can rest assured in our salvation, and the results of thankfulness will resound clearly in our lives.

Look with me first at a beautiful verse, Philippians 4:6–7“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Peace

Growing up in the early 2000’s the one thing I heard on the news more than anything was “WORLD PEACE.” America had just invaded the Middle East leading to a decades long war and people wanted … peace.

The peace that people craved was different than the peace which Paul talks to us about in Philippians. The news stations shouted MILITARY PEACE while Paul, under the inspiration of God Himself penned, preached, and practiced “true peace with God.”

Why is that different? Why does that matter?

True peace with God, the peace which passes all of our human comprehension begin within. Have you ever been at war with your mind? With yourself? You needed peace with God, inner peace. This peace is the source of all other peace!

We want world peace? We must all first have peace with God, then we can have peace with all men, even ourselves, even our minds.

Peace with God is necessary for a peaceful life.

When we are unsure about our eternal state, then we will not be at peace with or thankful in the various circumstances that life may push our way.

But, when we can stop, believe, confess, and live a life truly surrendered to Christ, then we can be at peace in our hearts, because we have peace with God.

When we have peace with God, then we can have thankfulness in circumstances and then peace with ourselves and peace with others.

But, we must first maintain peace in our eternal state.

Ok, honesty time! Who has ever doubted their salvation? Who has ever, dare I ask, doubted the existence of God or the truth of Christianity?

You are not alone. I don’t just mean in this church, but even in Scripture men of devout faith doubted. But, it is what they did with that doubt that carried them through to stronger faith.

They didn’t let that doubt destroy them, they didn’t let the doubt depress them, they let that doubt convict them to do the one thing we must all do: Reach out to Jesus. Once they did, Jesus affirmed Thomas and even John the Baptist to a stronger faith than they had before.

That stronger faith, or that peace with God, led to thankfulness in their situations, thankfulness for their God, and peace within and without.

Let not the anxieties win, let them not rule, rather, let the peace that God’s grace provides us keep your heart and mind in the one and only Christ Jesus.

Confidence

Peace, then naturally, leads to confidence.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Oh, our world and our minds are weary. We need confidence that we are following God’s will. We need confidence in hope. We need confidence.

Thankfulness leads to confidence.

Thankfulness, in itself, speaks first to the existence of God. It then speaks to the fact that His will is being unfolded before you.

Church, when we have peace and thankfulness in situations, we have confidence that it is GOD who is providing those things.

Who else are we thankful to? Who else provides that inexplicable peace? None but God.

We can maintain this peace and confidence only in Christ. Remember, not only is Christ the author of your faith, but he is the finisher, meaning He is sustaining you even through the pain. He is sustaining you even through the doubt. He is sustaining you so that you can maintain the peace and confidence in the existence of God, the reality of the truth of His word, and that you are in fact in the will of God with your life.

Are you confident this morning? Or are you allowing the enemy to steal peace, confidence, and joy?

Thankfulness is connected to so many promises of God. When we believe, when we trust, when we surrender totally, when we lean into the things we don’t fully understand, then God’s peace and confidence can take such full effect in our lives and we will be lead to led a life so full of joy!

Joy

Psalm 9:1–2 “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in him, and I am helped: Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; And with my song will I praise him.”

Psalm 13:5 “But I have trusted in thy mercy; My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.”

These, along with many others, are some examples in Scripture of true joy being found in the salvation of God which leads to thankfulness.

When we are truly saved, then we can truly be thankful. When we are truly thankful, which we should be, then our heart can sing with real joy that I am loved, cared for, and favored by God.

Stop trying to reason every single facet of God, you were not designed to! That will rob you of joy. Rest in, lean into the mystery of God, the mystery of Heaven. Trust that if God said it, it is true. Then, and only then, will you be able to find joy.

Chances are, you are the only thing standing in the way of a peaceful existence, confidence in God Almighty, and true joy found in Christ Jesus. Why? Because your mind wont allow you to be simply thankful, and that is robbing you blind.

Thankfulness for what God has done in your life will bring you joy. Point blank.

So often our lives are void of joy, why? We exist within our own sinful minds and our own sinful ways. Rare is it that we stop and remember God’s goodness. Rare is it that we allow joy to persist in our lives because we are too caught up in our problems or the lies of the enemy.

The enemy is good at seeking and destroying the sound minds and hearts of the people of God. He is the robber of peace, confidence, and joy. When we remember the truth that the enemy is the one attacking and the truth of God’s goodness then we can confidently stand in the battle ground and watch as the Lord fights our battles for us.

Be thankful today.

Have peace today.

Have confidence today.

Have joy today.

Blessings

Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

When we are thankful, we can then see the blessings of God.

Peace is a blessing

Confidence is a blessing

Joy is a blessing

Blessed are you who trusts God. And when you trust God, you can be thankful for his very many blessings in your life, which then leads to more peace, more confidence, and more joy.

The blessings of God lead to more and more blessings! Count them. Notice them. Be thankful for them. Be blessed by them!

Your heart may be weary this morning. Your mind may be over loaded with anxiety and stress. You may have more questions than answers. The mystery of God may be weighing on you.

In it all, be a thankful people. Choose thankfulness. Go into the battlefield with the right perspective. Maintain a right attitude. Allow that to form right and thankful actions within you. Because you are called to thankfulness. God deserves your thankfulness because He is so good. Don’t be stranded, be thankful. When you are, you can expect results. You can have peace true peace with God and man. You can have confidence in God’s reality, your eternity, and His will for you. And you can have real, true joy.

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Conclusion

Remember, though, none of this exists for you outside of Christ. The peace, confidence, joy, and blessings that you want as a result of thankfulness are nothing if not from Christ.

You must be founded in Christ. You must be secure in Christ. You must be rooted in His never ending grace.

Are you thankful this morning? Are you doubting this morning? Are you weak and weary? Would you come to Jesus, lay at His feet, and be ministered to by His Spirit?

Allow yourself to be at peace. Allow yourself to be confident. Allow yourself to have joy. See the blessings of God.

Get out of your head, and rest at the feet of the Savior.

*salvation plea*