Be Grateful Everyday
A “Season of Thanks” Meditation
5 Now no shrub of the field was yet on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. 6 But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person. – Genesis 2:5-7 (NASB)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. – I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
Gratitude is a full-time state of mind. Gratitude comes easily when things are going well, but how do we manage to be content and grateful during the hard or lean times? What steps can we take to cultivate a daily attitude of gratitude? God’s Word shares with us the intersection of how Scripture, mindfulness, and gratitude can make it possible to thank God regardless of what we are going through in life. Every day we wake up is a gift that God has given us. Let’s be grateful for and enjoy the gift God has given!
God’s act of creation was an intimate one.
For as long as life is in me, and the breath of God is in my nostrils. – Job 27:3 (NASB)
Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things. – Acts 17:25 (NASB)
Each breath is an opportunity to be grateful for the gift of life.
ILLUSTRATION: Groundhog Day movie
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,10 so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God. 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brothers and sisters, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. 15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from goodwill; 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment.18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. But not only that, I also will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:3-19 (NASB)
Is my gratitude focused on what I get out of things or on how a situation can glorify God?
A lack of gratitude often comes as a reaction to something that happens to us that is in opposition to our understanding of the purpose of life.
We can be bitter and angry about our situation, or we can choose to rejoice and be faithful to God.
Gratitude is a full-time state of mind.
What steps can we take to cultivate an attitude of gratitude?
Celebration leads to communication, which leads to contentment.
Gratitude is God’s will for us because God wants what is best for us.
Questions for Reflection:
Is my gratitude focused on what I get out of things or on how a situation can glorify God?
Do you find that gratitude comes easily for you, or is it hard to be grateful?
Are you grateful for every day you are alive?
Do you think about the little things, like breath, for which you can be grateful? How might your overlook on life change if you did?
Have you ever experienced something that seemed terrible at the time but later you were grateful you went through it?
How can you learn to be grateful even when you can’t see the end of a trying situation?
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. – I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
Gratitude is a full-time state of mind. Gratitude comes easily when things are going well, but how do we manage to be content and grateful during the hard or lean times? What steps can we take to cultivate a daily attitude of gratitude? God’s Word shares with us the intersection of how Scripture, mindfulness, and gratitude can make it possible to thank God regardless of what we are going through in life. Every day we wake up is a gift that God has given us. Let’s be grateful for and enjoy the gift God has given!
God’s act of creation was an intimate one.
For as long as life is in me, and the breath of God is in my nostrils. – Job 27:3 (NASB)
Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things. – Acts 17:25 (NASB)
Each breath is an opportunity to be grateful for the gift of life.
ILLUSTRATION: Groundhog Day movie
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,10 so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God. 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brothers and sisters, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. 15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from goodwill; 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment.18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. But not only that, I also will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:3-19 (NASB)
Is my gratitude focused on what I get out of things or on how a situation can glorify God?
A lack of gratitude often comes as a reaction to something that happens to us that is in opposition to our understanding of the purpose of life.
We can be bitter and angry about our situation, or we can choose to rejoice and be faithful to God.
Gratitude is a full-time state of mind.
What steps can we take to cultivate an attitude of gratitude?
- Rejoice always. (I Thessalonians 5:16)
- Pray without ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:17)
- Give thanks in all circumstances. (I Thessalonians 5:18)
Celebration leads to communication, which leads to contentment.
Gratitude is God’s will for us because God wants what is best for us.
Questions for Reflection:
Is my gratitude focused on what I get out of things or on how a situation can glorify God?
Do you find that gratitude comes easily for you, or is it hard to be grateful?
Are you grateful for every day you are alive?
Do you think about the little things, like breath, for which you can be grateful? How might your overlook on life change if you did?
Have you ever experienced something that seemed terrible at the time but later you were grateful you went through it?
How can you learn to be grateful even when you can’t see the end of a trying situation?