What I'm Most Thankful For

Thankfulness changes as you age… Stuff Relationships Health KEY QUESTION: Why is Thankfulness/Gratitude so important? Not your easy Sunday school answer Why do we teach it to our kids? Because… Being thankful is POWERFUL It is well-documented that GRATITUDE and ANXIETY cannot exist in our brains at the same time It also… Releases Toxic emotions Reduces physical pain Improves sleep quality Regulates stress Reduces depression This shouldn’t surprise us… Psalm 92:1–4 1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High, 2 to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, 3 with a ten-stringed harp and the music of a lyre. 4 For you have made me rejoice, LORD, by what you have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of your hands.   True thankfulness is pointed at God A study at Pepperdine University found… First, those with religious gratitude reported markedly higher levels of nonreligious gratitude. More centrally, however, religious beliefs may provide unique opportunities to experience gratitude. While interpersonal gratitude (i.e., gratitude to another human being) can occur in the absence of religion, gratitude towards God can, by definition, only occur in the context of religion or spirituality. Further, even positive happenstance (e.g., finding money on the street) or the simple recognition of blessings in one’s life (e.g., the capacity to walk) may be catalysts for gratitude towards God, though such events are less likely to facilitate interpersonal gratitude. Religion may thus uniquely facilitate the emotion gratitude through the perception of a larger set of agents, and the broadening of circumstances in which gratitude can occur. It was further observed that the religious gratitude group fared better on measures of happiness, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, and mental health than those with secular gratitude. All differences between groups were moderate to large in magnitude… God created us with the CAPACITY and the NEED to be thankful It finds its fullness in Him DEFINITIONS Gratitude + Thankfulness It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do. ~ Pastor Timothy Keller   Title of this message is… “What I’m MOST Thankful For” The challenge for us is to think DEEPER about thankfulness How it should SHAPE OUR LIVES 1: I’m Thankful for the GIFT of Thankfulness Let’s look at a quick story… Genesis 4 Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? 7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Unthankfulness is a DOORWAY for the Enemy to come in and take advantage in your life The opposite of thankfulness isn’t just “Ingratitude” or “Unthankfulness”… Bitterness Jealousy Hatred/spite This is why Paul teaches Christians… 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I’m thankful for the GIFT of thankfulness because it reminds me of God’s GOODNESS and MERCY as well as keeps me from the SIN of INGRATITUDE and SELFISHNESS   2: I’m Thankful for the DISCIPLINE of Thankfulness Philippians 4 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The Bible taught the benefits of thankfulness LONG before philosophers or psychiatrists Paul says… “BUT IN EVERYTHING” Relationships Tasks Job Health Being grateful doesn’t mean you pretend that everything is good We’re grateful DESPITE everything being good “BUT IN EVERYTHING…” This is DISCIPLINE Training our hearts and minds to healthy habits This is how we pray Don’t start with “GIMME!” Start with “THANK YOU” 3: I’m Thankful for the MATURITY of Thankfulness Philippians 4 10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.   What we are thankful for shows our MATURITY in the LORD What a child is thankful for vs an older Saint Maturity is realizing that thankfulness is not dependent on a SEASON or CIRCUMSTANCE Maturity is also knowing that… Thankfulness is a WEAPON in our battle for SIN and for the SOULS OF OTHERS 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.