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The Power of Gratitude Sermon for October 10, 2021
October is here, and along with it our Canadian celebration of Thanksgiving.
Across this beautiful country families are gathering this weekend to share a special meal and enjoy each other's company as they pause to consider a few of the things they are thankful for.
For many years, our family tradition was to travel to Penticton at Thanksgiving, in conjunction with a week-long Thanksgiving retreat.
The excitement and anticipation would build as we packed our bags and hit the road, savouring the sights of yellow aspen trees, red sumac, and sometimes even snow in the mountains.
Who would be the first one to see the Penticton sign high in the hills?
Once we arrived, we settled in our lodgings, filled the fridge, and set up for the retreat.
The excitement and joy of seeing old friends and new, of being together to worship filled us with gratitude as we lifted up our hearts and voices in praise to the great God who made every good thing.
A highlight of the celebration was the Thanksgiving banquet, when we shared stories, laughter, and camaraderie over a delicious turkey dinner.
We would learn about the amazing ways Jesus was working in Grace Communion International across the country and around the world.
At the end of the banquet not only were our bellies full - our hearts were full of praise and thanksgiving to our awesome Triune God.
What if we could capture that feeling, that feeling of overwhelming gratitude, and experience it every day?
What if we framed our mindset by thankfulness to God each morning?
Sadly, often we are robbed of this joyful worship by our distraction with life and its challenges.
Today, on our Thanksgiving weekend, I'd like a closer look at the power and benefits of gratitude.
What is it?
According to Wikipedia,
"Gratitude, thankfulness or gratefulness, from the Latin word gratus "pleasing, thankful", is a feeling of appreciation felt by and/or a similar positive response shown by the recipient of kindness, gifts, help, favors, or other types of generosity, to the giver of said gifts."
Wikipedia
A Christian definition might be more specific:
Gratitude is a loving, thankful response toward God for his kingdom presence with us and among us, and within the whole world.
It acknowledges, praises and celebrates his goodness, love, faithfulness, mercy and grace.
Why Is It Important?
For one thing, gratitude is good for us on many levels.
Numerous scientific studies have been done confirming the benefits of gratitude
In a 2020 article entitled "31 Benefits of Gratitude: The Ultimate Science-Backed Guide," I came across this illustration of the benefits of gratitude:
Practicing gratitude can help us emotionally, in our personality, career, family and physical health.
Science is fascinating, especially when it validates what the Life Giver has told us in his living Word.
From cover to cover, the Bible reminds us of the SOURCE of every blessing, the One to whom we need to express gratitude and praise every day.
It is an important spiritual discipline.
I'm not one for long lists, but here are 12 short but powerful insights from the article "The Power of Gratitude: 12 Benefits of Giving God Thanks" by Lisa Appelo.
1. Gratitude glorifies God.
This alone would be reason to give thanks to God.
Our gratitude glorifies God as we exalt not the gifts, but the Giver.
Gratitude helps us realize all we have comes not because of us, but from God.
And as God's grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
2 Corinthians 4:15
May heaven and earth be filled with His praises.
2. Gratitude helps us see God.
Gratitude opens our spiritual eyes.
There's a beautiful cycle in giving God thanks: the more we thank Him, the more we see Him working in us and around us.
Gratitude helps us sense God's presence, His personal care and His perfect timing.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.
James 1:16-17
May we have eyes to see God's good and perfect gifts, his work in us and around us.
3. Gratitude puts us squarely in God's will.
We often make God's will out to be some big, mystical plan when sometimes, it's simply obedience.
And part of His will for us is to be thankful, not just on the sunny days but on the hard ones as well.
Paul tells us to
...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
4. Gratitude brings peace.
"Count your blessings, not sheep" we're told to get rid of the worry keeping us up at night.
Gratitude helps us see that God's hand is all over our circumstances.
And God tells us when we give him our thanks, He gives us supernatural peace.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
5. Gratitude draws us to God.
Gratitude for the magnitude of God's undeserved kindness draws us to Him.
We see this illustrated when Jesus healed 10 lepers.
As Jesus walked by, all 10 cried out for healing.
"Go, show yourselves to the priests," Jesus commanded and as they went, they were healed!
Fingers were restored and ulcers disappeared as full sensation returned to their faces and limbs.
Certainly they were all happy, but only one was thankful.
Only one came back to Jesus, fell at his feet and thanked him.
Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed?
Where are the other nine?
Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?"
Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Luke 17:17-19
Gratitude should draw us to the Giver of every gift.
6. Gratitude brings contentment.
It's said that gratitude makes what we have enough.
If we aren't grateful for what God has given us, getting more won't satisfy us either.
Being thankful is the key to contentment.
. . .
godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out of it.
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 1 Timothy 6:6-8
7. Gratitude deepens faith.
Keeping a record of God's past faithfulness is a faith boost when we face new difficulties.
I have been journaling for a number of years, recording my gratitude, thoughts, prayers, my blessings.
The simple exercise of writing down your blessings, your gifts, can change your attitude and perspective for the rest of the day.
In fact, scientific studies have shown that consistently expressing gratitude in writing can over time improve mental health, lessening depression and anxiety.
Maybe you could start a gratitude journal, if you aren't already doing it.
My gratitude journals are testimonies that on my hardest days and in the worst circumstances, God's record of faithfulness is 100%.
That's why God commanded Israel to remember His great deeds.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1
8. Gratitude leads to joy.
The overflow of gratitude is joy.
Realizing God's abundant goodness, even in the hard times, is a gateway for joy.
Psalms 126 shows this so clearly as the Hebrew exiles sang their thanks to God for bringing them back to Israel.
Their gratitude overflowed into joy.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Psalm 126:1-3
9. Gratitude defies Satan's lies.
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