The attitude of Gratitude

Psalm 100:4–5 NKJV

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Philippians 4:6–8 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. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

1. Being thankful is a command.

Psalm 100:4 NKJV

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

enter His gates with thanksgiving.

Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 8426 תֹּודָה

8426 תֹּודָה [towdah /to·daw/] n f. From 3034; TWOT 847b; GK 9343; 32 occurrences; AV translates as “thanksgiving” 18 times, “praise” six times, “thanks” three times, “thank offerings” three times, and “confession” twice. 1 confession, praise, thanksgiving. 1A give praise to God. 1B thanksgiving in songs of liturgical worship, hymn of praise. 1C thanksgiving choir or procession or line or company. 1D thank-offering, sacrifice of thanksgiving. 1E confession.

Enter into His courts with praise.

Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 8416 תְּהִלָּה

8416 תְּהִלָּה [tâhillah /teh·hil·law/] n f. From 1984; TWOT 500c; GK 9335; 57 occurrences; AV translates as “praise” 57 times. 1 praise, song or hymn of praise. 1A praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God). 1B act of general or public praise. 1C praise-song (as title). 1D praise (demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God). 1E renown, fame, glory. 1E1 of Damascus, God. 1E2 object of praise, possessor of renown (fig)

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Adore

adored; ador•ing [Middle English adouren, from Anglo-French aurer, adourer, from Latin adorare, from ad- + orare to speak, pray—more at ORATION] 14th century

1: to worship or honor as a deity or as divine

2: to regard with loving admiration and devotion 〈adored his wife〉

3: to be very fond of 〈adores pecan pie〉 synonym see REVERE—ador•er noun—ador•ing•ly adverb

why are we commanded to be grateful?

Because we live in such a materialistic society we have this tendency to not enjoy the nonmaterial world.

enter into His court with praise.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Praise

2: to glorify (a god or saint) especially by the attribution of perfections verb intransitive: to express praise—prais•er noun

2. The command to ‘give thanks’ is not based on circumstances.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

First thing is it doesn't say “for all things” it says in all things. often times (not always) we can’t control our circumstances. Sometimes we can effect our situations, but we are not ready. we can complain about our situations, but it is not fruitful to do so.

We can give thanks for what we can give thanks for.

find the most basic thing to give thanks for and work you w way up!

To be grateful in all things is the will of God for you.

3. How do we practice gratefulness in all things?

Philippians 4:6–8 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. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:8 NKJV

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

what things are noble. outstanding quality.

Good report.

virtue- b: a particular moral excellence, a beneficial quality or power of a thing,

anything praise worthy.

Meditate or considerate on these things. to engage in contemplation or reflection