We Are Thankful - Estamos Agradecidos

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning!

This week, we focus on the season of Thanksgiving, beautiful fall leaves, the dying of the old with the hope of the new to come in spring.

We have so much to be grateful for. Today, I would like to look at Thankfulness in the PAST, the PRESENT, and the FUTURE. I also want to address enemies of gratitude in each category.

Ready?

THANKFUL FOR THE PAST

1 Chronicles 16:8–10 NKJV

8 Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! 10 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

1 Chronicles 16:8–10 RVR60

8 Alabad a Jehová, invocad su nombre, Dad a conocer en los pueblos sus obras. 9 Cantad a él, cantadle salmos; Hablad de todas sus maravillas. 10 Gloriaos en su santo nombre; Alégrese el corazón de los que buscan a Jehová.

1. The first enemy of gratitude is FORGETFULNESS

The writer of Chronicles shows us the importance of testimonies

To make His deeds known

Singing and talking about what God has done helps us to be

Thankful for the past &

To Remember why we are grateful

THANKFUL FOR THE PRESENT

Luke 17:11–19 NKJV

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:11–19 RVR60

11 Yendo Jesús a Jerusalén, pasaba entre Samaria y Galilea. 12 Y al entrar en una aldea, le salieron al encuentro diez hombres leprosos, los cuales se pararon de lejos 13 y alzaron la voz, diciendo: ¡Jesús, Maestro, ten misericordia de nosotros! 14 Cuando él los vio, les dijo: Id, mostraos a los sacerdotes. Y aconteció que mientras iban, fueron limpiados. 15 Entonces uno de ellos, viendo que había sido sanado, volvió, glorificando a Dios a gran voz, 16 y se postró rostro en tierra a sus pies, dándole gracias; y éste era samaritano. 17 Respondiendo Jesús, dijo: ¿No son diez los que fueron limpiados? Y los nueve, ¿dónde están? 18 ¿No hubo quien volviese y diese gloria a Dios sino este extranjero? 19 Y le dijo: Levántate, vete; tu fe te ha salvado.

2. The second enemy of gratitude is Busyness (Pre-Occupation)

Jesus will continue His work in you - when you let Him

Do you notice Him?

When you do notice Him, do you receive your blessings and move on to the next thing?

This Samaritan came back and thanked Jesus on his face

“Oh no, sorry. I am too busy”

Busyness will keep us from being thankful because it steals our ability to fully appreciate what is happening.

The only way to be thankful for the present, is to stop and enjoy the beauty of what God is doing in your life - and thank Him for it.

THANKFUL FOR THE FUTURE

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6–7 RVR60

6 Por nada estéis afanosos, sino sean conocidas vuestras peticiones delante de Dios en toda oración y ruego, con acción de gracias. 7 Y la paz de Dios, que sobrepasa todo entendimiento, guardará vuestros corazones y vuestros pensamientos en Cristo Jesús.

3. The third enemy of gratitude is worry

Worry steals our faith in the blessings and promises of God.

We are told to pray WITH THANKSGIVING for the things we need.

We need to be thankful in advance - knowing that He is going to do and bring what is best for us

This helps us enter every struggle - in prayer - and with a heart full of gratitude

Only when we choose to replace worry with grateful prayer, does God promise His peace to guard your heart and mind

REFLECTION

Have you forgotten the blessings and miracles of God in your life, in your family, and in your community?

Have you been so busy that you have missed the beauty of all that God has given you?

Have you allowed worry to take away your heart of thankfulness?

God can restore all these and more to you.

Let’s ask Him to do this - and let’s thank Him for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do!