Gratitude
Gratitude — “actively expressing gratitude to God as an act of worship.”
It’s not just a feeling—it’s a proclamation that God is worthy of glory.
“True gratitude isn’t just an emotion—it’s a mindset.”
1. When we lack gratitude, we lose the desire to go the extra mile.
Matthew 5:41, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”
Gratitude opens our eyes to those opportunities. Ungratefulness blinds us to them.
2. When we lack gratitude, we become pessimistic.
Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
3. When we lack gratitude, we stop trusting people.
Colossians 3:15–16, And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…
4. When we lack gratitude, our view of God becomes distorted.
Galatians 4:6–7, And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir.
How do we intentionally shift our minds from ungrateful to grateful?
1 Thessalonians 5:18, Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
A grateful heart becomes a joyful heart.
Gratitude is ultimately about turning our hearts toward celebrating who God is in every situation.
Psalm 103:2, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
Acts 16:22–25, A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. 25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.
They remembered God’s faithfulness—His goodness, His kindness, His promises.
Psalm 77:7–10, Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will He never again be kind to me? 8 Is His unfailing love gone forever? Have His promises permanently failed?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He slammed the door on His compassion?”
10 And I said, “This is my fate…”
Psalm 77:11–14, But then I recall all You have done, O Lord; I remember Your wonderful deeds of long ago. 12 They are constantly in my thoughts… 13 O God, Your ways are holy… 14 You are the God of great wonders!
“Memory supplies the colours with which Hope paints her truest pictures.” —Maclaren
The importance of remembering God in seasons of abundance.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12, When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant, then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Everything good in our lives comes from God’s hand.
Gratitude in abundance…and gratitude in lack.
Gratitude isn’t seasonal. It’s spiritual.
Gratitude opens the flow of abundance.
Matthew 14:15-21, As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
John 6:23, …other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks.
Jesus modeled…
1. He lifted His eyes.
2. He gave thanks.
3. He placed it in God’s hands.
John 10:10 (AMP) “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance—to the full, till it overflows.”
Psalm 23:5, God anoints our head with oil and our cup overflows.
Gratitude opens the flow.
It shifts our eyes upward.
It invites God into empty places.
It gives Him room to multiply what we place in His hands.
A declaration that God is good,
A declaration that God is present.
A declaration that God is able to do more.