November 18, 2024

Gratitude (Part 3): Enjoying God’s Blessings with Gratitude

Enjoying God's Blessings with Gratitude

As we conclude this brief series on gratitude, we have focused on how our ability to be thankful affects our behavior. We have seen that gratitude is the basis of any faithful service to God and will enable us to receive the greatest benefit from prayer.

As we think about the blessings themselves, we need gratitude if we are to appropriately enjoy the good things that God gives us. Notice what Paul told Timothy:

“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5).

In our final article in this series, we will consider how to enjoy God’s blessings with gratitude. Let us consider a few thoughts.Continue Reading

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November 11, 2024

Gratitude (Part 2): Praying to God with Gratitude

Praying to God with Gratitude

Gratitude is about more than just knowing what to be thankful for. A true sense of thanksgiving should necessarily affect our behavior. In the previous article, we saw how gratitude is essential if we are to “offer to God an acceptable service” (Hebrews 12:28). As we will notice in this article, it must also be the foundation of our practice of prayer. Remember what Paul wrote:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

As we pray to God, if we want it to benefit us, we must pray “with thanksgiving.” Let us consider a few points.Continue Reading

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November 4, 2024

Gratitude (Part 1): Serving God with Gratitude

Serving God with Gratitude

In the United States, Thanksgiving is near the end of November. This holiday is meant to be a time to reflect on the many reasons we have to be thankful. Of course, as Christians, we are to be thankful at all times, yet this holiday is a good reminder for us and society as a whole.

A few years ago, I published a series of articles leading up to Thanksgiving about the reasons we have to be thankful.* It is important that we recognize the many things for which we have to be thankful. However, it is just as important that we allow this sense of gratitude to impact our behavior.

So in this short series, we will consider how we conduct ourselves with gratitude. In this first article, we will discuss how we serve God with gratitude. Notice what the Hebrew writer said:

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).

Before we can offer “acceptable service” to God, we first must learn to “show gratitude” for the blessings He gives us. Let us consider some thoughts on this.Continue Reading

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