Keeping Company with Jesus: Gratitude as Worship
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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Turn to Mark 8
Last week we talked about the importance of worship. This week, we’ll discuss some practices or disciplines. Before we get there, remember,
We are designed to worship. Each person has the innate inclination to assign ultimate value to someone or something.
Whatever or whoever that is, we will worship, we’ll be devoted to that, and whatever we’re devoted to will shape how we live.
Scripture is clear – we are to worship God and God alone. Of course, the fullness of God is revealed in Jesus Christ – and so Christ is to be the central focus of our lives. Because He is central,
When discussing worship, keep these three things in mind: Love, relationship, and alignment.
Not going to cover these in detail, but remember, we don’t worship God because He has a deity ego problem.
We worship God because He loves us with an everlasting unconditional love, and worship is our primary response to His love.
– to receive and reciprocate. Furthermore,
Worship is essential to strengthening and enjoying our relationship with God.
Lastly,
Worship is critical to staying in alignment with God and His Kingdom.
When we cease to worship or limit our worship, what happens - we’re out of alignment. We start drifting. It’s like the tires on your car when they’re misaligned. Your car will not go straight that way it is designed to. There is constant tension pulling the car to one side or the other. There’s a sort of battle of wills (and wheels) between the driver and the tires. Tires want to go one way; driver wants to go another. Constant tension.
Same with God and worship. If we’re misaligned - not centered on Him – not engaged in proper worship, there will be constant tension between us, God, and ungodly things. But proper and consistent worship of God keeps us in alignment and eases, if not eliminates that tension. This is what Jesus meant when He said in
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
That’s the intent of this series – spiritual disciplines – the intent is for us to create space to seek Jesus above all other things - to challenge us to expand how we engage in our relationship with Jesus (keeping company with Jesus).
As I mentioned before
The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun.
Again, we’re talking about worship. Under the discipline of worship, she suggests six practices or ways to engage in worship: celebration, gratitude, creating a rule of life, sabbath, communion, and worship. Because of time, we’ll focus on one
The Discipline of Gratitude
Notice that we call it a discipline.
Why would Gratitude or giving thanks A)be a form of worship, and B) be considered a discipline?
Remember, we worship whatever or whomever is most important. So, if God is our central focus of worship, as He should be, we will have hearts of gratitude. Truthfully, Christians should be the most grateful and thankful people in the world, because we have experienced the forgiveness and love of the Savior! But sadly, that’s usually not the case, especially for Western Christians. Therefore, gratitude needs to be intentionally cultivated – hence a discipline.
Do a quick internal inventory. Think about your default setting when it comes to a grateful heart.
This default setting is the rule, not the exception – what is your predominate reaction to people, situations, etc. Is your default criticism or compliment? Gripe or gratitude? Grumbling and murmuring, or thankfulness? Cursing or blessing? The reality is we will find what we’re looking for. If we're looking for something to criticize or for looking for the negative - we will find it. But the opposite is true as well (my marriage).
What is gratitude? “Gratitude is a loving and thankful response toward God for his presence with us and within this world.” ~ Adele Calhoun.
That may seem very simplistic, but if you think about it gratitude recognizes that God’s presence is a gift, and His presence is ever present. Gratitude looks for God in every situation.
Gratitude does not ignore the sufferings and trials of life but finds a way to be thankful in lieu of them.
It finds a way to recognize and see God, He’s always working, He’s always on my side, and no matter what, Jesus loves me and died for me, and He’s got a home for me.
Rejoice always,
pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The way I see this is gratitude is like a lens (glasses). When we look at life, situations, circumstances … what lens are we putting on first to see? The lens where Jesus is absent which leads to criticism, complaining …. Or the lens where Jesus is present, and I can find a way to be grateful …? Here’s an illustration from Scripture.
In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them,
“I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.
And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”
What would your default reaction be? I know what mine would be – “What! Are you serious?”
And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”
And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”
And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”
My reaction …? But what did Jesus do?
And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.
And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.
And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
We understand that God is the power behind the miracle, but what would have happened if Jesus complained? “What! 7 lousy fish! That’s all you guys have!” Would the miracle still have happened? I don’t know, but genuine gratitude for what they had might have had something to do with the miracle. Which makes me wonder –
What is cultivating a grateful heart opens the door for more miracles in our lives?
What if cultivating a grateful heart opens the door for the contentment or satisfaction that we’re longing for?
“We, like Jesus, have choices about how to respond to what life dishes up. We each have the power to interpret the facts of our lives. We make the choices that turn us into bitter or grateful people.” ~ Adele Calhoun.
Think about this Psalm from David.
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Or in the KJV, You inhabit the praises of your people.
God does what with our praises (gratefulness)? They glorify Him. That’s where He “dwells,” shows up, “resides.”
If we want more of God in our lives, give Him more praise.
My friend Dwight recently asked me,
“If God inhabits our praises, who inhabits our complaints?”
Gratitude is an act of worship. Gratitude puts God front and center of the situation. Jesus is worthy of our gratitude. This is something we must train ourselves to do. Remember, this is a discipline – something we cultivate. So, I’m asking every person to focus on being more intentional this week with Gratitude as Worship. Purposefully incorporate gratitude into your day. I’ve listed some suggestions in the handout, and if you want to explore any of these, contact me.
As we close, what is a new awareness for you this morning?
What is one thing you can do this week to cultivate gratitude as worship?
If you’ve never trusted in Jesus as Savior …
Suggested Practices
Increase prayers and songs that focus on God’s generosity
Intentionally express gratitude throughout the day
Increase your awareness of God’s presence and gifts
Live from an abundance mentality, not scarcity
Keep track of God’s blessings (e.g., journal)
Pay attention to a lack of gratitude. Confess, and repent (turn around), and give thanks
Receive all gifts as a gift from God, not as an entitlement
End every day by giving thanks to God for at least one thing
Find a partner who can challenge you