It’s Gods Will that You Give Thanks!
I Thes 5:13-19
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
- Giving Thanks Gives Us God
- one out of ten lepers
The one that returned got to know Jesus! They all got healed.
The other nine wasted their greatest opportunity for life.
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[f] who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Your faith has saved you!)
Gratitude is an expression of faith, and it connects us to God!
- We can see God in all things
Lamp of the body is the eye, if the eye is clear the whole body will be full of light.
Romans 1: Acknowledge God, honor Him appropriately, give Him thanks!
What is God like in your life? Think of Paul!
Ephesians 3: 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
To see God practically in this way would be great!
Romans 8:28 All things work together for good.
The context is suffering.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
If we are thankful, we gain insight into God’s presence, goodness and power in our lives.
- This is God’s will
I Thes 5: 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
And it’s not a manipulation, but rather a reflection of what is true. The tenth commandment informs many of the previous ones. Be grateful fights against covetousness!
- Giving Thanks Provides Health
- Trying makes a big difference
He also explained the findings of a study in which one group of people were asked to write down what they were thankful for every week, while others wrote about their hassles and a third group wrote about neutral topics. “At the end of 10 weeks, the people who had gratitude, who wrote down the gratitude, actually had better self-esteem and they felt better about themselves and their lives. So it works. All of us can improve by just writing down what we care about.”
You can actually build feelings of gratitude by intentionally stating what you are grateful for. Say it aloud.
Do all things without grumbling or complaining Paul says in Phil 2:14
Why do we like to complain? We bond over hardship. But it is dangerous to just focus on hardship. There are other sources of joy. And gratitude is one of those. If we do not work in this mine for joy, then we miss out on it.
If we share a burden it halves. If we share a joy it multiplies!
- Gratitude builds contentment
Research from Northeastern University has found that people who felt grateful for little, everyday things were more patient and better able to make sensible decisions, compared to those who didn’t feel very gracious on a day-to-day basis. When 105 undergraduate students were asked to choose between receiving a small amount of money immediately or a larger sum at some point in the future, for example, the students who had shown more gratitude in earlier experiments were able to hold out for more cash.
You shall not covet. Commandment #10.
Eve’s problem
Cain’s problem
My problem as it relates to desire.
If we are content then we gain power over toxic desires.
- Many health benefits of gratitude
Gratitude improves physical health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and they report feeling healthier than other people, according to a 2012 study published in Personality and Individual Differences. Not surprisingly, grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health. They exercise more often and are more likely to attend regular check-ups with their doctors, which is likely to contribute to further longevity.
Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, ranging from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.
Grateful people sleep better. Writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.
Gratitude improves relationships. Studies have shown that gratitude reduces social comparisons. Rather than becoming resentful toward people who have more money or better jobs – which is a major factor in reduced self-esteem- grateful people are able to appreciate other people’s accomplishments.
Gratitude increases mental strength. For years, research has shown gratitude not only reduces stress, but it may also play a major role in overcoming trauma. A 2006 study published in Behavior Research and Therapy found that Vietnam War Veterans with higher levels of gratitude experienced lower rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. A 2003 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that gratitude was a major contributor to resilience following the terrorist attacks on September 11. Recognizing all you have to be thankful for – even during the worst times of your life – fosters resilience.
III. What is in the Well of Gratitude?
If I asked you what you had to complain about, you might relay something really important, like someone pulled out in front of you while driving and you had to slow down.
If you are really clever, you can work up to complaining about other people or even yourself complaining!
- What has God done to save you
Are we like the one leper or the nine?
- What people are in your life that care for you?
Not just now, but all throughout your life.
- We live in an amazing time
Healthcare
Comforts
Wealth
Travel
Friends
Free time
Good health
Family
Jobs
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