2025.12.21_ALL_IS_CALM_4_THANKS.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Unexpected grace overturns our best-laid plans

God’s favor often arrives where and when it makes no sense to our plans. You may have prayed for one thing for years, only to find God’s answer comes in a form you did not expect. When that happens, the right response is not simply relief or jubilation, but a deep, humble gratitude that recognizes God has widened the horizon of your desire.

This kind of surprise calls for posture more than proof. Rather than trying to fit God’s gift into your timetable or tally its usefulness to you alone, receive it as an invitation into something bigger. Let gratitude re-shape your expectations and open you to the ways God might be expanding your prayer into a larger story.

1 Samuel 1:19-20 (ESV)
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, "for I have asked for him from the Lord."

Reflection: What is one long-held expectation that has not been met? Write it down, then list three ways God might exceed or transform that desire beyond what you imagined — will you pray and surrender it to Him today?

Day 2: Blessings enroll us in God's unfolding mission

When God blesses a life, the blessing is rarely only for that person. Often a gift is the hinge that connects one life to a larger redemptive movement. Like Elizabeth discovering her child’s role in the coming Messiah, your blessing can be the doorway through which others are touched and God’s purposes advance.

Seeing blessing this way changes the posture of gratitude into partnership. Instead of hoarding favor for comfort or status, consider how God might be asking you to steward what you’ve received so that it becomes blessing for others. Humble generosity and open hands help you move from private joy to public participation in God’s work.

Isaiah 49:5-6 (ESV)
And now the LORD who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Reflection: Who in your everyday circle might be blessed if you stewarded one gift God has given you? This week, choose one person and one concrete act (a phone call, a meal, sharing a resource, an encouraging note) to join God’s work—what will you do and when?

Day 3: Faith follows God's invitation, not earns it

God does not wait for perfect faith before He moves; He often invites people into action and relationship that then produces faith. The point is not that faith earns God’s favor, but that God’s favor becomes the ground for real faith to grow. Like those in biblical narratives who responded to a promise with trust, you are invited to step into what God is doing even when proof is incomplete.

That kind of response looks practical and small as well as bold. It can be a simple yes to a next step—one conversation, one service, one act of trust—that says, "I will believe You enough to move." These small obediences cultivate deeper trust and make space for God to do the impossible through ordinary faith.

2 Kings 4:8-17 (ESV)
One day Elisha passed on to Shunem. And a notable woman was there, who persuaded him to eat bread. She said to her husband, "Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by us continually." And she said to her husband, "Let us make a small house on the wall, and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a chair, and a lamp, that he may stay there." ... Then the woman conceived, and she bore a son in that year at that same time as Elisha had said she would.

Reflection: Where are you waiting for more proof before you take a step of obedience? Identify one small action you can take today (a call, a conversation, a sign-up, a visit) that trusts God’s invitation—what will you do right now?

Day 4: In Christ, belonging precedes performance

The gospel announces that inclusion in God’s family is not the result of our achievement but the gift of Christ. Before you perform, you belong. That truth frees you from living by a ledger of merit and shifts you into a life of gratitude and service rooted in identity rather than fear. When you hold this reality, striving softens and trust deepens.

This does not remove the call to grow or to pursue holiness; it simply relocates the motive. Growth flows from gratitude rather than desperation. You can live from the assurance that you are qualified—not by your goodness, but by Christ’s work and the sealing of the Spirit—and that assurance invites bold love and restful confidence.

Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV)
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Reflection: What is one insecurity or performance-driven habit you will stop relying on this week? Choose a tangible reminder (write Colossians 2:10 on your mirror, set a daily phone alarm, or place a note in your wallet) and practice saying "I belong to Christ" each morning—will you do it?

Day 5: Gratitude trains eyes to see God's hand

Gratitude is both an immediate response to blessing and a discipline that shapes the soul. When gratitude becomes a practice, it reorients attention from lack to provision, from entitlement to wonder. It helps you notice the small, steady ways God is at work—sustaining, providing, opening doors—and it keeps the heart poised to join Him.

Practically, gratitude can be cultivated: remembering, naming, and sharing God’s goodness. When you intentionally thank God for what He has done, for what He is doing, and for what He promises, your heart grows more able to receive future favor without fear or comparison.

Psalm 107:1-3 (ESV)
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Reflection: Tonight, list five specific signs of God’s favor in your life (people, events, provision, forgiveness, new doors). Then choose one and share that story of gratitude with someone before Sunday—who will you tell and when?

Sermon Summary

This sermon centers on the theme that when we experience God’s favor, our best and most fitting response is gratitude. Drawing from the story of Elizabeth in Luke 1, we see how God’s favor often arrives in unexpected ways and at unexpected times, sometimes even after long seasons of waiting or disappointment. Elizabeth’s story is not just about receiving a long-desired child, but about being drawn into God’s larger redemptive plan—a plan that always has “more” in store than we can imagine. The sermon also connects this theme to Paul’s letters, reminding us that God’s favor is not limited to a select few, but is extended to all who are in Christ. We are included, qualified, and sealed by the Holy Spirit, and this undeserved favor should move us to deep gratitude, worship, and trust in God’s ongoing work in our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s favor often comes as a surprise, exceeding our expectations and desires. Like Elizabeth, we may pray for one thing, only to find that God’s answer is far greater and more far-reaching than we imagined. This calls us to recognize that God’s purposes are always bigger than our own, and to respond with humility and awe.
2. Experiencing God’s favor is not just about personal blessing, but about being drawn into God’s larger story. Elizabeth’s joy was not only in having a child, but in realizing her role in the coming of the Messiah. When God blesses us, it is often so we can participate in something that blesses others and advances His kingdom.
3. Faith is not a prerequisite for seeing God act, but a response to His invitation. God does not perform miracles simply to prove Himself, but to engage our faith and draw us into deeper trust. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we are called to believe that God can do the impossible, even when our circumstances seem hopeless.
4. In Christ, we are not only included in God’s family, but fully qualified to share in His inheritance. Paul’s words to the Ephesians and Colossians remind us that our place in God’s kingdom is secure—not because of our own merit, but because of God’s gracious choice and the work of Jesus. This assurance frees us from striving and fear, and fills us with gratitude.
5. Gratitude is both a response and a practice. It is easy to overlook God’s favor when we are focused on what we lack or what we wish He would do. But when we intentionally remember and give thanks for what God has done, is doing, and will do, our hearts are opened to see His hand at work and to join Him in His purposes.

Bible Study Guide

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: Experiencing God’s Favor and Responding with Gratitude**

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### Bible Reading

- **Luke 1:24-25; 39-45; 57-66**
- **Ephesians 1:13-14**
- **Colossians 1:9-12**

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### Observation Questions

In Luke 1:24-25, how does Elizabeth describe what God has done for her, and what does this reveal about her feelings?
When Mary visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45), what happens between the two women, and how does Elizabeth respond to Mary’s news?
According to Ephesians 1:13-14, what happens to those who believe the message of truth?
In Colossians 1:12, what does Paul say God has done for believers, and how does he encourage them to respond?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why might God’s favor have come to Elizabeth and Zechariah after so many years of waiting and disappointment? What does this suggest about God’s timing and purposes?
How does Elizabeth’s story show that God’s blessings are often about more than just personal happiness?
What does it mean to be “included in Christ” and “qualified to share in the inheritance,” as Paul describes in Ephesians and Colossians? How might this change the way someone sees themselves?
The sermon says that faith is not a prerequisite for God to act, but a response to His invitation. How does this challenge common ideas about faith and miracles?

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### Application Questions

Can you think of a time when you prayed for something specific, but God answered in a way that was different—or even bigger—than you expected? How did you respond?
The sermon says God’s favor is not just for our benefit, but so we can be part of His bigger story. Is there a blessing in your life that you now see as part of something larger God is doing? How might you use it to bless others?
When you look at your life, are there areas where you struggle to see God’s favor because you’re focused on what you lack? What would it look like to practice gratitude in those areas this week?
Paul says we are “included” and “qualified” in Christ, not because of what we’ve done, but because of God’s grace. Are there ways you still find yourself striving to “earn” God’s favor? How can you rest in what Jesus has already done for you?
The sermon talked about remembering and giving thanks for what God has done, is doing, and will do. What is one practical way you can make gratitude a regular part of your daily or weekly routine?
Elizabeth’s response to God’s favor was worship and gratitude, even after a long season of disappointment. How can you choose gratitude and worship, even when you’re still waiting for God to answer a prayer?
The sermon included a prayer prompt for praise, confession, request, and thanks. Which of these is hardest for you to express to God, and why? How could your group support you in growing in this area?

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Sermon Quotes

God is the originator of “but wait, there’s more.” Just when we think we understand His blessings, He surprises us with even greater favor and purpose than we could have imagined.

The favor God showed to Elizabeth was a front-row seat to the birth of a prophet and the Messiah he would point to. That called forth gratitude. That called for worship.

God does not act to bolster our faith, but to engage our faith. He says, “Believe me, and I will show you.”

What humans were making impossible, God made possible through Jesus Christ and those who got the message of the gospel. We have every reason to be thankful that we are included in God’s purpose.

Without God, we were separated from the blessings and hope that come from knowing Him. But with our confidence fixed firmly in Christ, no one can win a challenge of our qualification for sharing in God’s blessings.

When we experience God’s favor, the best response is gratitude.

Believing that God did – He saved us, made us part of His kingdom, and has taken up residence in us. Believing that God does – He sees us, knows our situation, and is vested in our lives for good.

What we have to be ready for is an answer that may not be the picture we see, but a plan that will not only fulfill our desire but be a blessing to many beyond us.

Thank God that He makes the impossible possible. Zechariah and Elizabeth had faith, but their experience told them not to get too excited. Conceiving a child appeared impossible. But then it happened.

Such favor and blessing call for gratitude.

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2025.12.21_ALL_IS_CALM_4_THANKS.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Unexpected grace overturns our best-laid plans

Day 2: Blessings enroll us in God's unfolding mission

Day 3: Faith follows God's invitation, not earns it

Day 4: In Christ, belonging precedes performance

Day 5: Gratitude trains eyes to see God's hand

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Quotes

Chatbot

2025.12.21_ALL_IS_CALM_4_THANKS.docx

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