“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness… For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted The Declaration of Independence and the separation of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. On this day, July 4th, that we celebrate our Independence from England, although we were really not independent until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783.  

On this day of celebration when when gather with friends and family for great barbeque and all the other great foods that go along with it, and  to watch awesome fireworks shows; we should remember that in the Declaration the founders referred to rights that were given to all men by God. Rights which had be restricted, or denied by the British government.  They were declaring that these God given rights were worth fighting for and, the Thirteen Colonies were declaring their independence and freedom . They and the vast majority of the people living in the Thirteen Colonies were on July 4, 1776 declaring themselves free from Great Britain's denial of those God given rights.
​

Here are 8 Freedoms to Thank God for This Independence Day
By Guy Hatcher
The Legacy Guy (Bold emphasis mine)

The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the on July 4, 1776, and announced the separation of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. With this, a new nation was formed—the United States of America. History verifies Thomas Jefferson as the composer of the original draft. Once completed, Jefferson submitted his draft to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams for their changes. Eventually, it made its final destination to Congress where it was amended for the last time. Today, we see in its detailed wording why Congress was declaring independence from Great Britain.

The most quoted line from the Declaration is "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Our forefathers were declaring they not only deserved freedom, but were willing to continue fighting for it.

Freedom is a great definition of independence, as it is the result of the choices we make in our life. The power of choice is one of the greatest freedoms we have in our country, and knowing where to find it is important, as we see in Proverbs 2:6: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” Let's review eight freedoms we should all celebrate this July 4th.

1. The freedom to believe
Our country continues to serve as a magnet for oppressed individuals who come to the USA for an opportunity to capture their dreams. Many dream for a good job, food, and shelter for their family. But our government should not be relied upon as the only resource to replace our faith in a God “who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment"

I Timothy 6:17‭-‬19 NKJV Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let  them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

2. The freedom to live out our faith
In some countries the mention of serving God or his son means instant death. Our forefathers recognized the creator through their extension of certain God-given rights in the Declaration of Independence. Our faith is the most important of all, as it gives us the foundation and assurance that God is in control of a world in chaos. When life seems out of control, seek the source of all creation — God. He will provide peace in the midst of all your life's storms.

3. The freedom to worship
We are allowed the choice to worship in any way we desire. God created us for fellowship. Our individual gifts are stronger when they are joined with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I Corinthians 12:12‭-‬14 NKJV For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.

Romans 12:3‭-‬5 NKJV For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of  himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Sadly, statistics show worship attendance is in a decline as more people choose a life of independence which ultimately leads to a life of solitude.

Hebrews 10:24‭-‬25 NKJV And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one  another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Choose today to ask God to direct you to a community in which to be involved. He will direct you to “give and receive“ as needed.

Luke 6:32‭-‬38 NKJV “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

4. The freedom of prayer
Self-reliance is an American lifestyle demanded and respected in numerous circles. Just as this can be seen as a strength, it can also be a tremendous weakness when it leads us to put God on the sidelines of our life, and call upon him only when we need his rescue. In personal times of self-reliance, I sometimes take on an image of seeing myself as "God-like" which results in my placing other gods before him, namely the god of “Me." By choosing to submit our requests to God in prayer we are making the choice to live out the faith to which he calls us.

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 NKJV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

5. The freedom to have a say in government
In the last Presidential election over 30 million professed Christians did not vote. We must recognize in our nation every vote does count, as issues such as mixed marriage, abortion, social services, and taxes continue to create further divisiveness. Our nation was founded on God, yet we continue to chip away at God’s sovereign place of authority through the decisions continually implemented by the Senate, Congress, and Judicial branches (also President and Executive Branch of government - this mine). As a body of believers, we must call sin what it is and stand united as we cast our votes through God’s divine wisdom and direction.

6. The freedom of speech
Free speech is one of the most sacred rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, and truly, all the others flow from it. We are guaranteed the right to speak openly and publicly about our opinions, beliefs, and faith. And like many of the other freedoms, it's easy to take this one for granted. This is also an extremely important freedom when it comes to preaching the Gospel. We are blessed to live in a country in which evangelism is not only tolerated, but protected in our founding documents.

Mark 16:15 NKJV And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Ephesians 6:18‭-‬20 NKJV praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

7. The freedom to petition the government
The freedom to petition the government is guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution. This freedom includes having the right to collect signatures on a petition, to engage in lobbying activities, and to protest government leaders if they do something with which we disagree. 

One way the freedom to petition the government has been explained is as follows: "A more simple definition of the right to petition, is 'the right to present requests to the government without punishment or reprisal.'" ​​

8. The freedom to pursue happiness
If you notice in the Declaration, one of the rights it defines is "the pursuit of happiness." Galatians 5:22 says we can have real joy in our life as we walk in the Holy Spirit. We don't have to pursue happiness; rather we can choose to live it out in the Spirit. This allows us to receive what we richly deserve.

Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

So what about the disease, divorce, death and disappointment we may receive along life’s journey? Peter summarizes our responsibility well: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

Adapted from the article "Do You Celebrate These 6 Freedoms on Independence Day?" by Guy Hatcher, found on Crosswalk.com

Romans 8:1‭-‬4 NKJV There  is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Psalms 146:5‭-‬7 NKJV Happy is  he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.

II Corinthians 3:17‭-‬18 NKJV Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is , there is  liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

John 8:31‭-‬32 NKJV Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
​

I've been trying to think of what to write this year for my Thanksgiving Day post, and I couldn't come up with anything.  I thought of the song lyrics "Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks to the Holy One, Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son".  I thought I'm sure that somewhere in my writing I've said "give thanks with a grateful heart", so I did a search of everything that I've written.  As it turns out I preached a sermon the Sunday after Thanksgiving Day in 2014 with the title "Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart".  I've never published the manuscript of that sermon and which the Holy Spirit gave me for The Church of Divine Guidance, in Los Angeles, and I want to share it with you this Thanksgiving.   

​Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart 

Once again just this past Thursday we celebrated as a nation what we call Thanksgiving Day.  You hear all the time, and it’s certainly true, that you don’t need a turkey, dressing, greens, pumpkin and sweet potato pies to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for people of faith represents more than an annual holiday, it serves as a reminder that giving thanks is part of who we are as believers because we demonstrate faith when we are grateful. All you need is a reason, and God has given us plenty of reasons to be grateful.

Start with what you see—the clothes you’re wearing, the food in the fridge, the beauty of a fall day (and we have a lot of those in Los Angeles). Then think about the people you love and how they’ve touched your life. Next, think about the things God has given you that can’t be held in your hands—things like hope, forgiveness, freedom, salvation, and your future home in heaven. Stopping to say thanks will remind you of how big God is and how good your life is, no matter what’s going on.   

You can’t separate gratitude and faith. Giving thanks=gratitude… Giving God thanks (or gratitude)  is an expression of your faith in His Sovereignty.

It is impossible to understand and receive all that Christ did for us on the cross and not be grateful. For those of us who have been given so much, it is important that we continually express our genuine appreciation to our Heavenly Father both in words and by the way we live our lives.  For the Christian, every day should be a day of thanksgiving…

Some of you may remember a song from the 1990s ( a hundred years ago).

Everyday is a day of Thanksgiving (written by Leonard Burks)
Recorded by Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA)

Chorus:
Everyday is a day of thanksgiving.
God's been so good to me,
everyday He's blessing me.
Everyday is a day of thanksgiving;
take the time to glorify the Lord today.

Verse 1:
I thank God for the moments
when I worship His name,
I thank Him for the sacrifice of praise.
It's no mystery to say,
how my God is everyday;
making my way through clouds so dark,
bringing His light into my heart.

Chorus

Verse 2:
Yes, there's pressures all around me
when fighting Satan's descending powers,
that never cease from trying to bring me down.
But I just lift my hands to glory,
believing in God's redemption story;
thanking Him for His saving grace,
as God gives me power just to win this race.

Chorus

Bridge:
He keeps blessing me,
blessing me;
He opens the door
that I might see,
He's blessing me.

He keeps blessing me,
blessing me;
take the time to glorify the Lord today.

THE MEANING OF THANKFULNES - Thankfulness is a mental and/or verbal expression of one's acknowledgement and appreciation of God's person, His grace, blessings, and sovereign work in one's life and the world.
​
Who Should We Give Thanks For?

Colossians 1:12-14 (NKJV)12  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.13  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,14  in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

• We should give thanks for God Himself and for His sovereign control over the universe. The world is a mess but think of how much more of a mess it would be if everything was just a matter of chance and there was no purpose in anything.  

​
Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

• We should give thanks to God the Father for Christ through which we gained our salvation and the freedom, favor, and blessings that come with it.

​​
Colossians 2:9-10 (NKJV)9  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;10  and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
We are complete in Christ and we should give thanks for that.

When Should We Give Thanks?

• We should give thanks whenever we pray.  The reason we should give thanks when we pray is because when we are thankful we take our eyes of ourselves and our problems so we can focus on God.  

Look at these examples from the apostle Paul:

Ephesians 1:15-17 (NKJV)15  Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,16  do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:17  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

Philippians 1:3-6 (NKJV)3  I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,4  always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,5  for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,6  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Colossians 1:3-5 (NKJV)3  We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,4  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;5  because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NKJV)2  We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,3  remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

When we pray with thanksgiving it helps us to see life through the perspective of God, His principles, His promises, His plan, His provisions, and His purposes. This focus on God promotes faith and courage in the face of the trying and painful situations that we all eventually face.  

• Second, we should always give thanks in everything and for everything

Ephesians 5:20 (NKJV)20  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

You were waiting on that one weren’t you?
This means that there is no limit on the time or the  extent of our thanksgiving.  God’s will for us includes constant joy, ceaseless prayer, and boundless thanks.

Why should we give thanks for and in everything?

First of all it’s God’s will for us.
Being thankful at all times helps us to focus on the fact that God is in control and working all things together for good regardless of how they may seem to us.  Our perspective is limited by time and space and God’s perspective has no limits.  Because we are thankful and know that God is in control of everything and that He has no limitations we can say as we do every week;

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Here’s another reason to give thanks in and for everything.  

We learn patience.  God said that He would never leave or forsake us so we can be patient and thank God no matter what's going on.  In fact He says it in 3 places.

Deuteronomy 31:6-8(NKJV)6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”[a]
Because He never leaves or forsake us;

James 1:2-4 (NKJV)2  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,3  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.4  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

If you don’t understand that, or what’s happening ask God for the wisdom to understand.

James 1:5-8 (NKJV)5  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.6  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.7  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;8  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

While all things may not be good, all the time, God uses them for good.  That good is making us like His Son.

Back to Romans 8:28, let’s read a little more.

Romans 8:28-29 (NKJV)28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Since a spirit of thanksgiving keeps our eyes on the Lord, it also keeps us alert and makes us eager to go to God in prayer to lay our burdens and those of others at His feet.  
Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)16  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
WHY SHOULD WE BE THANKFUL?1. Because it honors God. When we are thankful, we recognize that God exists and that we are dependent on him.  We are acknowledging His sovereign control, His infinite wisdom, His purposes for our lives, and His grace.

2 Corinthians 4:15 (NKJV)15  For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.  

We should be thankful Because it is commanded in Scripture.

Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)4  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Colossians 3:12-15 (NKJV)12  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;13  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.14  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Back to 1 Thessalonians 5 but I want to start with verse 16 this time.  

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)16  Rejoice always,17  pray without ceasing,18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I’ve mentioned this scripture a couple of times and we’ll talk about it a little later.

We should be thankful Because there are dangerous consequences for not being thankful.

Being thankless dishonors God and leads to pride or dependence on man rather than God

Romans 1:18-21 (NKJV)18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,19  because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.20  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,21  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Depending on ourselves or other people can lead to bitterness, complaining, and grumbling, and those things can turn into depression and feelings of hopelessness, because we focus on ourselves, other people, and our problems rather than on the Lord.
Now let’s talk about that scripture that I said we would discuss later;

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

How can we do that?  

How is it possible to obey and “give thanks in all circumstances,” especially if our circumstances are horrible,  when life seems to be one discouragement, disappointment, disease, disaster, and death after another?

Let me give you an example of somebody who showed thankfulness in a situation that most people would not consider at the time to be thankful at all. I ran across this in preparing for this message:

“One night the Biblical scholar Matthew Henry was robbed. When he got home he was still trembling with fear. Yet, he regained his calm as he prayed This is the prayer he offered and wrote in his journal: "Father, I thank You first because I was never robbed before; second, I thank You because although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, I thank You because although they took everything I had, it was not very much; and fourth, I thank You because it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed"  

Wow!!!

Before I give you some suggestions as to how you can give thanks in all circumstances I want to talk about what being thankful in tough times does for you:

• Being Thankful in Tough Times Cultivates Your Character

1. In the verse that we just read it says that thanksgiving is the will of God for us. There was a Roman poet, Cicero, who wrote ;  "Thanksgiving is not only the greatest of all virtues, it is the parent of all virtues."
2. Parents recognize the virtue of thanksgiving when raising children. If the children don't learn to be thankful, they grow up to be selfish, narcissistic (having an excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one's physical appearance), manipulative, complaining, and thinking that the world owes them a living.
3. Being thankful causes you to focus on what you have…. not on what you don’t have.  Remember the hymn “Count Your Blessings”  it says, “When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed / When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost / Count your many blessings, name them one by one / And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

The blessings of God are often subtle and simple things that can be easily overlooked unless we take the time to look for and acknowledge His gifts.

Psalm 103:2 (NKJV)2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

• Being Thankful in tough times Increases Your Joy

Go back to 1 Thessalonians 5 but this time start at the 16th verse again;

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)16  Rejoice always,17  pray without ceasing,18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
In verse 16 it says rejoice always.

The words thanksgiving and joy come from the same Greek root, charis, meaning "grace."  Thanksgiving is eucharis, and joy is chara. Thanksgiving and rejoicing go hand in hand.

We talked already talked about what we get  when we don’t give thanks in tough times.  We get the opposite of thanksgiving, we get  bitterness, complaining, and grumbling  not joy.

You may have heard the saying "When you can't change the wind, adjust your sails."  Well if times are tough and you can’t change the times then change your attitude to one of gratitude.  

Here’s something else that I read while preparing this sermon it’s by Maltbie B. Babcock from a book “Inspiring Quotations”

"Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them we will see. Blessings brighten when we count them. Out of the determination of the heart, the eyes see. If you want to be gloomy, there's gloom enough to keep you glum; if you want to be happy, there's gleam enough to keep you glad. Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings by counting your troubles"

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.”

Go to Lamentations

This expression of thanksgiving was written by Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was a prophet used by God  at a very crucial time in the history of Israel and Judea.   God told this man, Jeremiah to tell Israel that they were going to be overrun by Babylon,  and that Jerusalem and the temple were going to be destroyed and they would be taken into exile for 70 years.  God sent him to do this at the same time that others, who said they were prophets too, said everything is going to be fine.  Well you can imagine who they would rather believe.  In fact they wanted to kill Jeremiah, he was imprisoned even thrown in a well.  Was he supposed to be thankful?  Yep.

Jeremiah is often called the weeping prophet because he expressed sorrow for the things that God had shown him about what would happen to his people.  He wrote Lamentations after all the stuff that he said would happen to the nation, to the capital Jerusalem and the temple actually happened.  The nation was in ruins, Jerusalem destroyed, it’s wall torn down and the temple, burned to the ground.  
Yet he was able to be thankful.  Here is what he wrote:

Lamentations 3:22-24(NKJV)22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,Because His compassions fail not.23 They are new every morning;Great is Your faithfulness.24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,“Therefore I hope in Him!”

• Being Thankful in Tough Times helps you Conquer Your Problems.  I didn’t say eliminate I said conquer.

I don't mean that all your problems go away when you give thanks, but  they stop being such a problem. What goes on around you no longer controls what’s going on within you.  You start to live from the inside out.

Here’s another saying that I found;

"Bitterness comes to all. Sours some; sweetens others. I shall use it to sweeten my spirit."
You can't control the problems that come into your life but you can control how you respond.  

Thanksgiving changes our mindset from that of a victim to that of a victor.  

Romans 8:31-39 (NKJV)31  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?33  Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.34  Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36  As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."37  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.38  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

Nothing can help the person with the wrong mental attitude, and nothing can stop a person with the right mental attitude.   The right mental attitude for us the believer is thanksgiving.  It will cause you to overcome your obstacles and win your battles.   Like it says in verse 37 yet in all these things we are more than conquerors.  

Now back to the Big Question How Is It Possible to Be in an attitude of gratitude in tough times?  

Here’s another example of somebody being thankful in really tough times;
In 1636, amid the darkness of the Thirty Years’ War, German pastor Martin Rinkart is said to have buried 5,000 of his parishioners in one year, an average of 15 people a day. His parish was ravaged by war, death, and economic disaster. In the heart of that darkness, with the cries of fear outside his window, he sat down and wrote this Thanksgiving table grace prayer for his children:    Now thank we all our God With heart and hands and voices Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices.    Who, from our mother’s arms, Hath led us on our way With countless gifts of love That still are ours today.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Yes I keep going back to it because it says that it’s God will that we be thankful in all things.

This year I battled feelings of confusion, anger, disillusionment, and a sadness that can suck the life out of you.  There were certainly times that I didn’t feel very grateful. I told the folk in my Sunday morning Bible Study group and the Tuesday night bible study, there were times that I doubted that God was willing to work on my behalf or Ruth’s behalf.  My guess is that most if not all of you have been there.  However we are told to be thankful even at those times.

Just think about;

• the person recently divorced
• the person who had a miscarriage of a baby they wanted badly
• the person who's body is devastated by the treatments they are receiving
• the person who feels they are barely "existing" in the Nursing home
• the person who is overwhelmed by financial demands
• the person who has to helplessly see their child suffer
• the person who lives with a cloud of depression over them
• the person who recently stood at the fresh dug grave of someone they love
• the person who feels suffocated by their loneliness

In each of these cases, the idea of "giving thanks" is very difficult. In fact, it's not just difficult. It seems impossible.

Yet, we are to give thanks in ALL circumstances.

How is that possible?    

I have a few simple ideas that I believe can help you ?

But before I give you the ideas I need to tell you that of all this is impossible to do in your own power.  It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit which indwells you that you are able to give thanks in all circumstances.


Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)14  When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,15  the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.16  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.17  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.18  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.19  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.20  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.21  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.  

Now Here are my simple ideas;

Sometime when you are alone slowly look around you and notice the things you have to be thankful for.  If you are at home or have your smart phone, look at the pictures and thank Him for the memories that the pictures represent. Look at your possessions and thank Him for the ways He has provided for you. Look at the things others have given as gifts, and thank Him for the blessing of friendship. Look at the things that remind us of our friends and family who have have already gone on to their eternal reward . . . and thank God for things these people poured into your life.  Look at your television, computer, stereo, your refrigerator and the food in it,  and thank God. Thank Him that you are living in a time where you can talk to you friends or family anytime you want and even see them while talking to them, if uou want to.  You can text them and tell them how much you care for them in the middle of the night, without waking them. Notice the wall where you marked the height of your children and give thanks for them. Look at the things left lying around the house and give thanks that signs of life surround you.

 In some quiet night sit in the dark and list as many things as you can in God's character that you can be thankful for. He is love, Hebis merciful, He is faithful, you can think of many more.  Remember where you were when He changed your life. Remember the times of crisis you thought you could not survive but did, by His strength. Recall some of the life changing lessons you have learned or some of the Bible passages that have become your foundation for living.  Think about the place that He is preparing for you and thank Him in advance for the riches He gives.

 Make it a point to say thanks to the people you love. Be specific. Maybe you need to phone call somebody. Maybe you need to visit a  gravesite . . . but do make it a point to be grateful. It will mean a lot to you but it will probably mean even more to those you thank.
​
 Take the time to talk about the Lord. Remind yourself and those around you that He is good, his love endures forever, and His faithfulness will never cease. Remind yourself of when days were better. Tell stories of the past and then look forward to the future day when there will be no more tears, the pain will be gone, and the smile of Jesus will bring a joy unspeakable.

1 Peter 1:6-9 (NKJV)6  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,7  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,8  whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,9  receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

A friend sent me this a couple of weeks ago.  Imagine the God of the universe speaking these words to you… ;

Thankfulness takes the sting out of adversity. That is why I have instructed you to give thanks for everything. There is an element of mystery in this transaction: You give Me thanks (regardless of your feelings), and I give you Joy (regardless of your circumstances). This is a spiritual act of obedience—at times, blind obedience. To people who don’t know Me intimately, it can seem irrational and even impossible to thank Me for heartrending hardships. Nonetheless, those who obey Me in this way are invariably blessed, even though difficulties may remain.

Thankfulness opens your heart to My Presence and your mind to My thoughts. You may still be in the same place, with the same set of circumstances, but it is as if a light has been switched on, enabling you to see from My perspective. It is this Light of My Presence that removes the sting from adversity.

Ephesians 5:20 (NKJV)20  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Psalm 118:1 (NKJV)1  Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 89:15 (NKJV)15  Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance.

Let me end with the thing that we should thank God most for …….. salvation.  

Psalm 118 is a song of thanksgiving to God for His salvation, verse 14 says

Psalm 118:14 (NKJV)14  The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.

That salvation is by the grace of God and our faith in which we acknowledge the sacrifice of Jesus to atone or pay the penalty for our sins.  

Acts 4:11-12 (NLT)11  For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’12  There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

The Bible tells us that we are separated from God because we have sinned.

Isaiah 59:1-2 (NLT)1  Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.2  It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

Romans 6:23 (NLT)23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 3:23 (NLT)23  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

But God loves us—He loves you, He loves me—and He wants us to be part of His family forever. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son into the world to die as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. All we need to do is reach out in faith and accept Christ as our Savior and Lord:

Romans 3:24-26 (NLT)24  Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.25  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,26  for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
Have you opened your heart to Jesus Christ? If not, turn to Him with a simple prayer of repentance and faith, and thank Him for what He has done for you. If you have never done this I’ll help and lead you in that prayer of repentance and faith.  If you want to do that today come up now and I’ll help you.  If you’re shy and don’t want to come up here that’s OK come talk to me after service and we can do it where there’s nobody but you and me and Jesus.  

If you do know Christ, how long has it been since you thanked God for your salvation? We should not let a day go by without thanking God for His mercy and His grace to us in Jesus Christ.  
​

​Happy Thanksgiving

Give Thanks
by Don Moen

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"

Give thanks with a grateful heart (with a grateful heart)
Give thanks to the Holy One (to the Holy One)
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart (with a grateful heart)
Give thanks to the Holy One (to the Holy One)
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich (I am rich)
Because of what the Lord has done for us"
Give thanks

We give thanks to You

Last August I preached a sermon, Stop Faking It.  One section of the sermon was “Don’t Fake The Funk” meaning that we need to be open and honest with God when we pray. Here’s part of that sermon;

Stop faking, it.  It's okay.  You can say anything to the Lord anytime you feel like it, and in any way you feel like it.  Now that doesn't mean that you can be disrespectful.   Don’t ever forget that He is God and He can, like like our parents use to say, “I brought you into this world and I can take you out, and make another one just like you”.  What I mean is that you can be real with God, He won't come down on you for telling Him how you really feel.  He is always open and real with you and he wants you to be real with Him.  He's your friend and he loves you.  When you have a true friend you can talk to them about anything, anytime, and pour out your soul to them.  So let’s be real with God in our conversations with Him.  Our prayers should be conversations where we talk to our friend and He talks to us and we are both open with each other.

We should let  our real emotions show in our conversations with Him.  After all He has emotions and He doesn’t deny them, or hide them from us.  

He gets angry

Psalm 7:11 (NLT) God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day.  

He experiences grief

Genesis 6:6 (NLT)  So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.

Ephesians 4:30 (NLT)  And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

He is jealous for our love

Exodus 34:14 (NLT)  You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.
He shows His impatience

Judges 10:16 (NLT)  Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the LORD. And he was grieved

The Risk of Being Real
Our friendship with God deepens when we risk being open and honest as we talk with Him.   Let’s stop “faking the funk”.
                                                                  
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)  For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Christians like to quote this scripture when things get a little tough but if we’re honest, when they don’t turn around right away it seems that God’s plans were not prospering you at all; in fact, it feels like they’re hurting you. What is He trying to do? Make you tough? Make you stronger? How were these plans bringing you hope? Where is all this peace and prosperity He promised?

When we become convinced that God is really our friend, we can talk to Him about what we’re feeling.  We can ask Him those questions.

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

I got a devotional in my email this morning, from Devotionals Daily, written by Esther Fleece the author of No More Faking Fine.  I the devotional which follows Esther says, and I agree, that much of the thanks that Christians give at this time of year is really fake.  We “fake the funk” and don’t really take the time to remember the good times and the good things that our good God has done for us in the bad times as well as the good times.  When we remember what He has done and then remind ourselves of those things stop “faking the funk” and “faking fine”  Thanks real thanksgiving.

​How to Make it Through the Holidays When You Don't Feel Very Grateful
by Esther Fleece, author of No More Faking Fine

It’s that time of year again. Pumpkins are put away, Christmas décor in beginning to fill the stores, and there’s one more big holiday to celebrate before the Christmas jingles hit the airwaves – Thanksgiving.
            
As Christians we know we are supposed to “give thanks is all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and “give thanks to God for everything” (Ephesians 5:20) but I have a sneaky suspicion that many of us are not celebrating the holiday season like we want to be.
                        
Just this week I heard from a friend who has been struggling with infertility for years. Another friend just let me know of her pending divorce. The news headlines continue about another mass shooting, this time to another grieving church.
                        
Life is hard, draining at times, and pain does not take a break when the holidays get here. Sometimes pain is more exposed around the holidays. Sometimes the holidays can expose our longings and laments and it makes it difficult to know how to celebrate with a troubled heart.
                        
How can we “give thanks” when we don’t feel very thankful?
                        
1. Remember what God has done
                        
As I studied laments throughout scripture, I saw a God who invites us to remember. We are to remember the things God has done for us in the past. We hold on to these in the present and into our future, especially when our circumstances make it difficult to remember the goodness of God. God knows the highs and lows that hit our life, and so He invites us to remember His faithfulness throughout the ages.
                        
Remembering the goodness of God in the past, will help us in seasons where it’s harder to see Him. “Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 8:11).
                        
2. Remind God of His promises
                        
This one can feel a little odd, after all, God is all-knowing and doesn’t need us to remind Him of things, yet God invites us to remind Him. In the same way a child might say to a parent, “remember you said you’d take me to ice cream if we won the game?” God invites us into a reminding-prayer relationship with Him. This type of reminding is not for God’s sake, but usually for ours. It is good for us to remember God’s promises. It is good for us to stay in communication with God when life has not gone the way we expected it to.
                        
The Hebrew words for “remember” – zakar – and “not forget – lo shakach – are both in active tense. They are “doing” verbs. Just as we take action by praying, we also take action by calling God’s truths into the present.
                        
This practice of remembering and reminding God are found in both the old in New Testaments. Jesus even asks us to remember Him as we take communion (1 Corinthians 11:24). The church I have been attending practices communion every week and this has been so good for me! I am being reminded of God no matter what has gone on during my week, and I am being reminded to take my prayers and pain to God.
                        
The practice of remembrance can often leads our hearts to thanksgiving for our past and hope for our future. While God will never forget or abandon us, at times we will feel forgotten. It’s not that God is distant; it’s just that sometimes He feels distant. It’s not that God is preoccupied; it’s just that our struggles make us feel like we’re facing the world alone.
                        
Sometimes we need a little extra reminder around the holidays.
                
In my book No More Faking Fine, I share about Nehemiah and other “How Long” laments found in scripture. Nehemiah is a servant in scripture who practiced this type of remembrance prayer.
                        
Nehemiah remembered God, “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome” (Nehemiah 4:14) and Nehemiah reminded God “Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people” (Nehemiah 5:19).
                        
Remembering and reminding are tools of our faith that we can apply to each and every season.
                        
Know that when life is painful, it will not always stay that way. Let’s remember God’s faithfulness to us in the past, and have hope that we will again see it in the future.
                        
Prayer: Heavenly Father, sometimes Your help feels so far-off. Please give me strength to cling to You. Give me a shield of faith (Ephesians 6). Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy (Psalm 130). Hear my cry for help (Psalm 5:2) and be merciful to me, for I am faint (Psalm 6:2).
                        
Original devotion for Devotionals Daily by Esther Fleece, author of No More Faking Fine.
                        

In the bible studies that I lead I talk to a lot about prayer and the way that it changes our perspective from our view to God’s view.  

Rather than looking at things from our perspective we should pray that God gives us His perspective into the things we are praying about.  We must realize how small we are and how big God is, and how short our time of existence is compared to eternity.  

Psalm 90:2 (NLT)2  Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.

Psalm 39:4 (HCSB)4  “LORD, reveal to me the end of my life and the number of my days. Let me know how short-lived I am.

James 4:13-14 (HCSB)13  Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”14  You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are ⌊like⌋ smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

1 Peter 1:24 (HCSB)24  For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

We are not in control of the world God is.  We are not in control of our futures, God is.  The only response to our problems or our condition is to be still and turn them over to God.

Psalm 46:10 (NLT)10  “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

When we see things from God’s perspective it helps to not become frustrated or angry with God and His timing.  When our prayers aren’t answered the way we expect, it helps us to trust without hesitation that God knows what He is doing far better than we know how we think things should be done.

God wants us to always keep eternity in mind, because that is His perspective.  When we do, it helps us to understand that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”

Romans 8:18 (HCSB)  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

Understanding that we are limited by time and space and  while God is not changes our perspective on everything...even our thanksgiving.  

The following devotion by Sarah Young, urges us to view life through the lens of God’s view.  That view is one of abundance.  It calls for us to view life through the lens of God’s view which is one of abundance.  
​

​Giving Thanks for God's Abundance 
by Sarah Young from Jesus Calling:  Giving Thanks to God

Consider It

Thankfulness is a skill we can develop with practice. It’s just a matter of pausing and noticing the abundance with which God has filled our lives. We can choose to view life through the lens of deprivation (noticing everything we don’t have and worrying that there is never enough for us) or through the lens of abundance (noticing everything we do have and trusting that a good God will provide for us). Which will we choose? In this session, we’ll see what a difference it can make when we choose to view life through the lens of God’s abundance.

  1. What is one thing for which you’re thankful to God?

2. How challenging would it be for you to come up with ten things for which you’re thankful? Why do you think it’s easy or hard for you?

Experience It

Read this devotion from Jesus Calling:

“Bring Me the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Take nothing for granted, not even the rising of the sun. Before Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, thankfulness was as natural as breathing. Satan’s temptation involved pointing Eve to the one thing that was forbidden her. The garden was filled with luscious, desirable fruits, but Eve focused on the one fruit she couldn’t have rather than being thankful for the many good things freely available. is negative focus darkened her mind, and she succumbed to temptation.
​
“When you focus on what you don’t have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened. You take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, flowers, and countless other gifts from Me. You look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until that is ‘fixed.’ When you approach Me with thanksgiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through. Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving.” —From Jesus Calling, April 6

​My prayer for you this Thanksgiving is that you delight yourself in the Lord and that you receive from Him the desires of your heart.  If you are His child, no matter what has happened this year you have been blessed.   If you're reading this, He has blessed you even if you are sick, or broke, or lonely, or depressed.  He has blessed you because you're able to read this post.  

God loves you and will never leave or forsake you no matter what's going on in your life.  He has promised to be with you through the good times and the bad times and since the creator of the universe has made that promise then you are more than a conqueror.

I pray that you will have a peaceful and happy holiday with your family and friends. There is so much to be thankful for, and it’s a blessing to have a special day to remember all the graces and gifts we have been given.

Psalm 118:1-29 (NKJV) 1  Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2  Let Israel now say, "His mercy endures forever."3  Let the house of Aaron now say, "His mercy endures forever."4  Let those who fear the LORD now say, "His mercy endures forever."5  I called on the LORD in distress; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.6  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?7  The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.8  It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man.9  It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes.10  All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.11  They surrounded me, Yes, they surrounded me; But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.12  They surrounded me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.13  You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the LORD helped me.14  The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.15  The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.16  The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.17  I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.18  The LORD has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.19  Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD.20  This is the gate of the LORD, Through which the righteous shall enter.21  I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation.22  The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.23  This was the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.24  This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.25  Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.27  God is the LORD, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.28  You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.29  Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 100:1-5 (NKJV)1  Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!2  Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.3  Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.4  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.5  For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Besides sharing time with family and friends over food, the most important thing this Thanksgiving Day is you having an attitude of gratitude. You hear this all the time, and it’s certainly true, “you don’t need a turkey, dressing, greens, pumpkin and sweet potato pies to celebrate being thankful for the blessings of God”. Thanksgiving Day for people of faith represents more than an annual holiday, it serves as a reminder that giving thanks is part of who we are as believers because we demonstrate faith when we are grateful. All you need is a reason. God has given us plenty of reasons to be grateful; so why wait for Thanksgiving Day to express your gratitude to God?  Develop an attitude of gratitude and everyday is Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving is Important to Your Health

People who are thankful for what they have are better able to cope with stress, have more positive emotions, and are better able to reach their goals. Scientists have even noted that gratitude is associated with improved health.

More and more research is coming to the forefront, showing that gratitude and joyful laughter are connected with healthy living, while grumbling is connected with diseased living.  Worry, fear, and anger are huge disease causers.  Instead we should practice the healing therapy of “counting our blessings.”  Remember the hymn “Count Your Blessings”  it says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

An article in the Harvard Mental Health Letter, says that  "expressing thanks may be one of the simplest ways to feel better:"

"The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context). In some ways gratitude encompasses all of these meanings. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible.

With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves.

As a result, gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.

...People feel and express gratitude in multiple ways. They can apply it to the past (retrieving positive memories and being thankful for elements of childhood or past blessings), the present (not taking good fortune for granted as it comes), and the future (maintaining a hopeful and optimistic attitude).

Regardless of the inherent or current level of someone's gratitude, it's a quality that individuals can successfully cultivate further."

Be Careful of an Attitude of Ingratitude

As Christians here in the United States we have so much to be grateful for, more things than we can even imagine.  So much that sometimes we can't see the magnitude of all God has given us. That is ingratitude.

Francis Schaeffer, who was an American theologian in the last century, said, "The beginning of man's rebellion against God was, and is, the lack of a thankful heart."  Every read the poem “Invictus”  the last stanza exhibit the attitude that many of us have, sometimes.   It shows an attitude of us being the source of strength, happiness, and prosperity.  It is an attitude that runs against scriptural teaching and is inconsistent with the Spirit-filled life.

"It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul."

We who have been born again, and given eternal life, through the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross, have so much for which to be grateful.  We should always have an attitude of gratitude.  ​

How do we Exhibit an Attitude of Gratitude?

I started the post with Psalm 100 because it tells us to thank the Lord for who He is and what He has done.  It tells us how to thank Him, and when and where to thank Him.  

He is worthy of praise

Psalm 100:1 (NKJV) Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
The writer of the psalm is Hebrew and for the Hebrew God is the source of joy.  For the Hebrew, (Israelite) thanking God was the ultimate joy of his/her life.  God is both the object and source of joy.

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)11  You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

The writer says that we are to express our gratitude in a “joyful noise”.  That means in a manner in which you can be publically heard.  The word "noise" means to break forth with, or to burst. It’s like somebody being so overwhelmed with emotion that they can’t contain themselves.  You know the way you get when you go to, watch or listen to a sporting event and somebody on your team makes a great play.  You get excited, and enthusiastic.  The word “enthused” comes from the Greek word “ entheos, “possessed by a god”.  

He is worthy of service

Psalm 100:2 (NKJV) Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

To serve God you must be:

1. Humble - you can't serve someone unless you have a humble attitude.
2. Faithfulness - service implies faithfulness, otherwise it would not be service but betrayal.
3. Work - you can't serve someone if you don't do anything.

James 2:18-22 (NKJV)18  But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.19  You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!20  But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?22  Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

He alone is God

Psalm 100:3 (NKJV)  Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

God must be first in our lives.  Yes, before your spouse, your children, your church, your career, your desires, before everything.  Without God none of those things can bring peace.  It is only by and through that your marriage, your family, your church, your ca1

Peter 1:3-9 (NKJV)3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,5  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.6  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,7  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,8  whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,9  receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
  
Joy that is beyond measure.   This is how we can live with an attitude of gratitude, because the Lord we serve is God.​

He is worthy of our praise

Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)4  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

We are so blessed today because unlike the Israelites who could only experience the presence of God through the Ark of the Covenant, but now, because of Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives inside of everybody who places their trust in Him for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation.    For the believer,  we are always in the presence of God. Our attitude should always be one of gratitude and praise.

When the Scripture tells us to bless the Lord, as this verse tells us it is  saying  that we must acknowledge, recognize, and confess with our words and actions that it is  God who is the source of all true happiness and blessing in life.  When we do this we have no choice but to give thanks.
It’s impossible to be in right relationship with God and not have an attitude of gratitude. want to know why He is worthy of our praise, look at verse 5.

God is good

Psalm 100:5 (NKJV) For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

This is why we are to give praise to God  He’s good. This is why we enter His gates with thanksgiving and serve Him with gladness.  He has mercy on us. His truth is never ends.  Do you know anybody about whom you can say these things?

There is no one else about whom these things can be said.

How Can You Maintain an Attitude of Gratitude?

Be aware

Look around and you’ll realize how much you are blessed.  If you have food in the refrigerator , if you are able to read this post, if you are clothed, if you have heat and lights, then you have more than most people in the world today.  If you happen to live in the United States you have a life expectancy of 75 years.  If you live in a country where the life expectancy of more than 40 years you are blessed to live longer than most of the people in the world.  Most people in the world won’t have what we consider a balanced meal.  

Take a good look around at the rest of the world.  It may shock you but it will also cause you to be grateful. ​

Take inventory

Here are the words to the hymn I referenced earlier,  "Count Blessings." by Johnson Oatman Jr

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Refrain:

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings—money cannot buy 
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Have you stopped to count the blessings in your life lately?
If we focus on the bad things we will never see the good things.
Take inventory of the blessings.   

Take action

Do something good for someone else.  Share what God had given and done for you.  He didn’t give it for you to hold on to.  You are his ambassador which means you speak for Him you do for Him.  

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV)  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

Jesus said when we bless others it’s same as doing it to Him.  

Matthew 25:34-40 (NKJV)34  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:35  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;36  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'37  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?38  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?39  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'40  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

Choosing an attitude of gratitude is not always easy.  However it does give us a new outlook on life.  So this Thanksgiving focus on the things that you have, not on what you don’t have.  Most people in this world don’t even have that.   

Does your life demonstrate a sense of gratitude to God? When others see you, are they aware that your live your life for Someone other than yourself? Is there joy in your life? Does it show? How have you demonstrated your gratitude to Christ lately?

​Find some good to do and do it.