16 "Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
1863 -- Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a National Holiday, a day to give thanks to our magnificient Father.
1950s Became a 4 day work week because a lot of people were calling in sick on Friday anyway.
1939 Roosevelt pressured by realtors to change the date to the 4th Thursday in November.
1941 Congress passed Law to say that Thanksgiving would always be celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November.
Yet, every day should be Thanksgiving -- filled with thanksgiving.
When we have a thankful attitude we personally benefit. Satan wants to steal our joy away. If we have a thankful heart, he won't be able to. You could call it a good defensive posture.
Give thanks no matter what. Be content no matter what.
"To love God is to love His will." Elizabeth Elliott
"But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6
Paul doesn't complain. Follow His example. And follow Christ's example.
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death--
even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-8
Say (and mean it), "I trust you."
The Duke of Wellington (who defeated Napoleon twice) said at the end of his life, the one thing he would change is that he would give more praise.
How do we live like this? How do we live with a grateful heart? A thankful attitude?
1. Begin and end each day with praise.
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”[a]" Hebrews 13:5
In every circumstance praise God.
Complaining dries our hearts up.
"9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’" Matthew 6:9-13
We can't maintain our witness when we are ungrateful.
2. Remember what you have received.
"For if, by the trespass of the one man, deathreigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in lifethrough the one man, Jesus Christ!" Romans 5:17
"Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lordrejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced," Psalm 105:1-5
3. Praise is a conscious action. We can choose how we approach life.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4;2
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.And be thankful." Colossians 3:15
1863 -- Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a National Holiday, a day to give thanks to our magnificient Father.
1950s Became a 4 day work week because a lot of people were calling in sick on Friday anyway.
1939 Roosevelt pressured by realtors to change the date to the 4th Thursday in November.
1941 Congress passed Law to say that Thanksgiving would always be celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November.
Yet, every day should be Thanksgiving -- filled with thanksgiving.
When we have a thankful attitude we personally benefit. Satan wants to steal our joy away. If we have a thankful heart, he won't be able to. You could call it a good defensive posture.
Give thanks no matter what. Be content no matter what.
"To love God is to love His will." Elizabeth Elliott
"But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6
Paul doesn't complain. Follow His example. And follow Christ's example.
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death--
even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-8
Say (and mean it), "I trust you."
The Duke of Wellington (who defeated Napoleon twice) said at the end of his life, the one thing he would change is that he would give more praise.
How do we live like this? How do we live with a grateful heart? A thankful attitude?
1. Begin and end each day with praise.
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”[a]" Hebrews 13:5
In every circumstance praise God.
Complaining dries our hearts up.
"9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’" Matthew 6:9-13
We can't maintain our witness when we are ungrateful.
2. Remember what you have received.
"For if, by the trespass of the one man, deathreigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in lifethrough the one man, Jesus Christ!" Romans 5:17
"Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lordrejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced," Psalm 105:1-5
3. Praise is a conscious action. We can choose how we approach life.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4;2
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.And be thankful." Colossians 3:15
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