Day 1: Bitterness blinds one to God's unfolding plan
Naomi's story shows how deep loss and bitterness can narrow vision so much that present gifts and future purposes are missed; even when she could have seen protection, a homeland to return to, and the faithful loyalty of Ruth, bitterness led her to call herself Mara and to blame God, obscuring the blessing that would later bring redemption and lineage to the Messiah. [55:15]
Ruth 1:20 (NKJV) But she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me."
Reflection: Name one painful loss you still carry; today, list three concrete things in your life you can thank God for despite that pain, and speak them aloud to begin trading bitterness for recognition of present blessings.
Day 2: Gratitude draws one into God's presence
The ten lepers demonstrate that healing or blessing can be received while still remaining distant from God; the one who returned to give thanks stepped into proximity and worship at Jesus' feet, showing that gratitude opens fellowship and restores relational closeness that blessings alone cannot secure. [01:15:23]
Luke 17:11-19 (NKJV) Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."
Reflection: After identifying one blessing God has given you this month, set aside five uninterrupted minutes today to kneel or sit quietly and verbally thank God for that blessing, then reach out (call or text) one person and share how God provided.
Day 3: Rejoice, pray, and give thanks always
Paul's command in 1 Thessalonians calls for a daily rhythm — rejoicing, continual prayer, and thanksgiving in everything — that reshapes perspective from scarcity and complaint to reliance and praise, making gratitude the foundation of God's will in Christ for everyday living. [46:42]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Reflection: Choose one habitual moment today (morning coffee, commute, bedtime); at that moment for the next seven days, stop for 60 seconds to pray, name one thing you're grateful for, and ask God to show one practical next step that grows your trust in Him.
Day 4: God's presence comforts through life's darkest valleys
Psalm 23 reminds the listener that even when walking through the valley of the shadow of death there is no need to fear because God's presence, rod, and staff bring comfort, restoration, and guidance — an invitation to trust Him as shepherd through every turbulence. [34:39]
Psalm 23 (NKJV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Reflection: Identify one current "valley" you face; today write a short prayer that begins, "Lord, I will not fear because You are with me," and include one practical action this week that demonstrates trust in His guidance.
Day 5: Enter His courts with thanksgiving and praise
Psalm 100 calls believers to approach God with joyful singing, glad service, and thanksgiving — a posture that shifts focus from what's missing to who God is, recognizing that gratitude and praise are the doorway into His presence and provision. [45:41]
Psalm 100 (NKJV) Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 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. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
Reflection: For the next three gatherings (worship service, small group, family meal), plan one specific act of thanksgiving you will offer aloud (a short testimony, a prayer, a song line) and commit to doing it as a way to rehearse gratitude publicly.
Sermon Summary
God met us this morning with comfort, peace, and the reminder that He never lets us down. I called us back to our why: to acknowledge, trust, and lean on God daily—and that begins with eating His Word every day. Scripture is living; it shapes our rough edges like sandpaper. Don’t wait for January to read—start now. As the holidays ramp up stress, I urged us to resist the gravitational pull of selfishness and ungratefulness. We often center our attention on what’s missing instead of what’s present, and in doing so, we lose the joy God has put right in front of us.
We sat with 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks. Gratitude is more than polite words; it’s a posture formed in the presence of God that breaks the power of self-focus. Naomi’s story helped us see how pain can rename us if we let it. She said, “Call me Mara—bitter,” because loss had become her lens. But God had already placed Ruth at her side, and through Ruth and Boaz came Obed, Jesse, David—and ultimately Jesus. If she’d known her end from the beginning, she would’ve read her losses differently. Gratitude lets us say, “This was hard, but God.”
We also looked at the ten lepers. All were healed; only one returned. The nine didn’t lose their miracle, but they missed fellowship with the King. Gratitude brings proximity. Blessings are good gifts, but they make poor gods. Don’t let the answer to prayer keep you from the One who answered. Even in personal moments—like walking with my daughter through injury and recovery—we saw how shifting the focus from “the gap” to God’s faithful work reframes the whole journey.
Today’s invitation was simple: repent where bitterness has settled, and choose an attitude of gratitude. In good days and bad ones, say, “But God.” Give thanks in everything, and come close to Jesus.
Key Takeaways
1. Feed on the Word daily God’s Word is living, and it patiently sands down the rough edges we can’t fix by willpower. Daily Scripture lifts our eyes from the blur of stress and resets our loves toward God. Start now; don’t delay obedience behind a calendar. The Word will meet you where you are and move you where you need to be. [38:16]
2. Gratitude reframes what you see We naturally center what’s missing, like noticing a stain on a clean shirt, and we miss the goodness right in front of us. Gratitude relocates the “center of interest,” allowing us to enjoy the gifts God has already placed in our hands. It softens our reactions in marriage, parenting, and friendships by training us to see grace before gaps. What we magnify, we experience more deeply. [49:40]
3. In everything, give thanks Thankfulness isn’t mere politeness; it’s the obedience of a heart reoriented away from self. Paul’s command is not situational—it’s comprehensive—because God’s presence is constant. Gratitude doesn’t deny pain; it declares “but God” inside it. This posture makes room for hope and keeps us close to His will. [46:42]
4. Refuse to be defined by loss Naomi’s grief renamed her, but God was quietly writing redemption through Ruth and Boaz. Our wounds can become our identity when we fixate on what was taken rather than who is with us. Gratitude loosens loss’s grip and helps us see the seeds of tomorrow’s mercy. Don’t let pain write your name; let God do it. [54:20]
5. Gratitude brings you closer to Jesus Ten lepers were healed; only one returned to fall at His feet. The others kept the blessing but missed the fellowship. Gratitude not only honors God—it brings us near Him and guards us from letting gifts eclipse the Giver. Return, give thanks, and live at His feet. [75:23]
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 — Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Observation Questions
What three short commands does Paul give in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, and how did the pastor frame them as a single posture for life? ([46:42])
What name did Naomi ask to be called, and what reason did she give for that new name? How did the pastor describe the effect of that choice on her outlook? ([55:15])
In the story of the ten lepers, how many were healed and how many returned to thank Jesus? What did the pastor highlight about the difference between receiving a miracle and returning to worship? ([01:14:30])
How did the pastor compare Scripture to “sandpaper” and what was he saying Scripture does to a believer over time? ([38:46])
Interpretation Questions
How does Paul’s phrase “in everything give thanks” function as a discipline rather than mere politeness, and what does the pastor mean when he says saying “thank you” is not the same as being grateful? ([46:42])
What does Naomi’s renaming to “Mara” reveal about how suffering can redefine a person’s identity, and in what concrete way did Ruth’s presence work against that new identity? ([55:47])
Why might the nine healed lepers have not returned to Jesus, and how does the pastor’s statement “gratitude brings proximity” explain what was lost when they didn’t come back? ([01:15:23])
In what way does daily “eating the Word” (the sandpaper image) break selfishness and prepare someone to adopt an “attitude of gratitude”? ([38:16])
Application Questions
Think of one area where you habitually notice what’s missing (marriage, parenting, finances, ministry, etc.). This week, name one concrete thing you will thank God for in that area and when you will do it. ([49:23])
Has a recent answered prayer or blessing made you less consistent in church, small group, or prayer? Identify one blessing that may have pulled you away and one clear step you will take this week to restore proximity to Jesus (e.g., return to small group, set a prayer time, sit at Jesus’ feet physically during a service). ([01:17:14])
If you feel stuck in bitterness or have taken on a “Mara” identity about some loss, bring that memory to mind now. Write one honest sentence that begins, “This was hard, but God.…” Plan to speak that sentence out loud once this week. ([01:02:35])
Make a one-week plan to “eat the Word” daily: decide when you will read, for how long, and which short plan or passage you will follow. Who will you tell to keep you accountable? Write these commitments and share them with the group. ([38:16])
Is there someone in your life you have wounded or who has wounded you and where gratitude or a small act of service could help restore relationship (like Ruth’s faithful actions toward Naomi)? Name one specific thing you will do for that person in the next two weeks. ([01:08:30])
The holidays can create stress that pulls attention to what’s missing. Choose one simple habit to practice during the season (a short morning gratitude list, a 2-minute prayer before meals, a daily “thankful” text) and commit to when you’ll start it. ([42:44])
Sermon Clips
And the word of God is like that sandpaper. And I read things that hurt sometimes. I'll read things in my daily Bible reading and the Lord just reminds me, hey, you got to work on that. Hey, you got to deal with that. And church, that is something we all have got to go through and understand. His word, it is working in us. And, man, we get into this place sometimes in our walk with God. Oh, I already read that once. I already read that. Yeah, I know that story. But the word of God is living, living.
[00:38:52]
(36 seconds)
#LetGodsWordWork
And the word of God is like that sandpaper. And I read things that hurt sometimes. I'll read things in my daily Bible reading and the Lord just reminds me, hey, you got to work on that. Hey, you got to deal with that. And church, that is something we all have got to go through and understand. His word, it is working in us. And, man, we get into this place sometimes in our walk with God. Oh, I already read that once. I already read that. Yeah, I know that story. But the word of God is living, living. And no matter what it is that you're facing, God will show you something new and fresh in his word.
[00:38:52]
(42 seconds)
Because so many times, we miss out on what's in front of us because we focus on what is missing. Come on. One more time. I'm going to go to the kids again this morning. Not just in general, right? It's not ours. It's just in the world. We take them to the park. We take them to an activity. Take them to a birthday party. You rearrange your schedule. You did everything different things. Like, hey, we're going to be there for about 45 minutes to an hour. An hour and a half goes by. Maybe two. Hey, guys. It's time to pick up. It's time to go.
[00:48:06]
(35 seconds)
#BePresentNow
Focusing on what is missing keeps us away from enjoying or from being grateful for what we do have. And if we focus on what's missing, we focus on the broken part. We focus on, and it's so easy to find the missing thing, right? You ever seen somebody wearing like, you know, look, it happens to us all the time. You're wearing a nice clean shirt. Maybe it's a clean white shirt. You're wearing a thing. And all of a sudden, you do something, and you get one little spot. And you walk in. And what does everybody tell you? Hey, you got something on your shirt.
[00:49:51]
(36 seconds)
#EnjoyWhatYouHave
This is what ungratitude does. Not having an attitude of gratitude, we blame God for all our troubles. I've done that. I've been there. Come on, God, why? Why did you let this happen? Why did you do this to me? Why did you send this to me? Why did I have to leave this place? Why this? Why that? Why the other? She's blaming God. If you go to verse 20, scroll in your paper, go scroll down to verse 20. Look at what it says in verse number 20. She said to them, do not call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
[00:54:34]
(38 seconds)
#GratitudeNotBlame
But our attitude has to change to have an attitude of gratitude. And then in reality, this is what happens. Watch out. Let's talk about this for a second. Come on. My Hispanic's in the house, okay? I know we do these things. We look at somebody. Hey, but when are you going to get married? Right? You're somebody who's single? Hey, man, when are you getting married? They start dating somebody. So when's the wedding date? The day they get married. Bro, they haven't left the reception. When are you going to get married? No enjoyment of where we're at right now because there's always what's missing.
[00:57:12]
(37 seconds)
#SavorTheNow
We look back at our lives sometimes and we're so stuck on what we missed and what was broken and what was lost. And here's the challenge. Can we stop and look and say, this was hard. This is what gratitude does. This is what an attitude of gratitude does. It can say, this was hard, but God, this was difficult, but God, this was painful, but God, this was whatever it was, but God.
[01:02:35]
(33 seconds)
#ThisWasHardButGod
``I don't glorify my past and my pains. I glorify my God. I don't glorify what's missing. I glorify what's in front of me. And when we make that choice, people aren't going to get it. But we've got to understand that we don't deny what happened, but we say, but God.
[01:10:24]
(22 seconds)
#GlorifyGodNotPast
And so many times, we don't realize that ungratefulness, or not having an attitude of gratitude, or better said, this, an attitude of gratitude brings us in closeness with God. An attitude of gratitude brings proximity. It brings closeness to God. What was the first thing we read this morning in 1 Thessalonians 5, 16 through 18, right? It said, rejoice when things are good. Okay, it said rejoice always. I'm saying thank you for paying attention, Judas. All right. Rejoice when things are good. No, no, no. Always. Pray when you need something. No, that's not what it said. Pray without ceasing. And then it says, every once in a while, give thanks. No, it said in everything, give thanks.
[01:15:23]
(48 seconds)
#GratitudeDrawsYouCloser
When we focus on what's missing, or even when we focus on the blessing, we can miss out on fellowship. Let's not get so caught up with the blessing that we miss the fellowship. Ten people were healed. Nine missed fellowship with Jesus.
[01:16:10]
(25 seconds)
#FellowshipOverBlessing
Jesus, what in your life has been bitterness, has been pain? Are you there right now? And the challenge on this Sunday after Thanksgiving is to look at it and say, God, what are you working in it? What's the blessing that's coming? What are you doing? Pastor, you don't know how hard it is. Listen, I know how hard things can be, but I choose to love him anyways, to serve him anyways, to be present anyways, and to give thanks anyways. And when the blessing comes, I choose to be part of the one. Part of the 1% went back and had proximity with Jesus because he glorified God at the feet of Jesus.
[01:24:11]
(65 seconds)
#ChooseGratitudeAnyway
I don't know what state you're at in your life. I don't know the pain of everybody in this room. Definitely not of everybody who's listening online or listening to a rebroadcast of this. I don't know your pain, but God does. And I know that the same God that worked in Naomi, the same God that worked in Ruth, the same God that worked in David, that worked in Paul, that worked in Peter, the same God that worked in Daniel, that worked in Samson, the same God that worked in Ezekiel, the same God that worked in Elijah, the same God that worked in Adam, the same God that worked in Moses, the same God that worked in John, the same God that worked in Philip, the same God that worked in Tamar, and the same God that worked in Rahab, and the same God that worked in Mary, and the same God that works in you and me today.
[01:25:17]
(51 seconds)
#GodWorksInYouToo
