What You Need to Be Thankful For (Pt.1)

INTRODUCTION

We are in a series called "Living a Life of Thanksgiving."

We have already looked at the “who” of thanksgiving and said that we are to thank God through the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Spirit.

In our last time together, we looked at the “why” of Thanksgiving and said we are to thank God because it is commanded, it is God's will, and because God is sovereign.

And now we are looking at the “what” of Thanksgiving.

“What” are we to be thankful for?

John Calvin said… “We are surrounded by God's benefits. The best use of these benefits is an unceasing expression of gratitude.”

We’re going to take this morning and next Sunday to answer this question…

The first is…

We Are to Be Thankful for Who God Is

God is good - (Ps.105-107 opening line links these together) Ps.107:1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 43; 34:8; Nah.1:7; Ex.34:6

Be Exultant Psalm 107

The emphasis in 105 is on Israel’s exodus from Egypt and in 106 on God’s longsuffering care of His people. This psalm focuses on the Lord’s redemption of the nation from captivity in Babylon (vv. 2–3)

Goodness is His very nature

It is manifest in all of His attributes because it is the perfect act of a perfect God

God doesn’t change - Mal.3:6; Heb.13:8

He never changes because He’s never wrong

The Godhead is perfect

God is holy - Ps.99:9; Isa.6:3; Rev.4:8

Holiness is the only worship God accepts

Holiness surrounds Him

God is love - 1 Jn.4:8, 16; Jn.3:16

Love originates from God

You cannot know this love apart from God

God is rich in mercy and grace - Eph.2:4-5

God acts out of His mercy and love towards us

God made us alive to Himself because of His love, mercy, and grace

God is sovereign - Ps.103:19

He is always on His throne

Everything He does pleases Himself

“The redeemed heart gives thanks not merely for what God has done, but for who God eternally is—unchanging in His goodness, perfect in His holiness, sovereign in His rule, faithful in His promises, rich in mercy and grace, and overflowing with steadfast love. This is the God whom we worship.” (A.W. Tozer, paraphrased)

We Are to Be Thankful for What God Has Done

In creation - Gen.1:1; Col.1:16

He created everything for us

He created everything for Himself

In salvation through Jesus Christ - Rom.5:8

Jesus died for us

He loved us at the point of our greatest need

In forgiveness of sins - Eph.1:7

He redeemed us

He forgave us

In victory over death and sin - 1 Cor.15:57

This is because of the work of Christ on our behalf

His victory became our victory

In adopted us into His family - 1 Jn.3:1; Eph.1:5

He made us His children through adoption

This He determined to do before we were born

In answering our prayers - Ps.116:1

God always hears the prayers of the saints

This increases our love for Him

In God’s provision - Mat.6:33; Phil.4:19

God provides everything we need

Because of Christ’s glory He supplies all our needs

Summed up - Ps.9:1

We Are to Be Thankful for What God is Doing Right Now

He is leading you - Rom.8:13-14

In killing sin

As a son

He is guiding you - Prov.3:5-6

You can trust Him

He is making your paths straight

He is refining His work in you - James 1:2-3

He refines you through trials

He reveals your faith through tests

He is strengthening you in your weakness - 2 Cor.12:9

He gives you exactly what you need at that moment

You can boast in your weakness because of the power of Christ

He is giving you peace - Phil.4:7

His peace guards your heart and your mind

Peace follows thankful prayer (see v.6)

Summed up - Phil.1:6

CONCLUSION

As we step back and look at all of this—who God is, what God has done, and what He is doing right now—we cannot help but see that the Christian life is meant to be saturated with thanksgiving.

Gratitude is not something we offer occasionally; it is the continual posture of a heart that truly knows God.

But the greatest reason for thanksgiving—the reason behind every other blessing—is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us that though we were sinners, separated from God and deserving of His judgment, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live, died the death we deserved, and rose again in victory so that all who believe in Him would be forgiven, adopted, and given eternal life.

If you are here today and you do not know Christ, all the blessings we’ve talked about—God’s goodness, His faithfulness, His peace, His promises—come only through a saving relationship with Him.

Thanksgiving begins at the foot of the cross.

It begins when you turn from your sin and trust in the One who gave His life so you could live.

And for those of us who belong to Him, how can our hearts not overflow with gratitude?

When we remember His character, recall His mighty works, recognize His hand in our present circumstances, and rest in His unchanging promises, thanksgiving becomes the natural response of redeemed people.

So as we leave today, let us do what Psalm 107:1 says: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting!”

Let that truth shape your prayers, your attitude, your worship, and your witness.

May we be a people marked not by worry or complaint, but by unceasing gratitude—and may our thanksgiving be as big as our God, because He is worthy of nothing less.

Let’s pray together.