Embracing Gratitude: Recognizing Life's Abundant Gifts

 

Summary

Thanksgiving is a time to pause and express gratitude to God for the abundance in our lives. This tradition is symbolized by the cornucopia, a horn of plenty, which originates from Greek mythology. However, unlike the mythological gods, our God is one of true abundance, offering not just material wealth but spiritual richness—love, joy, and peace. Life itself is a gift, and we are invited to recognize and appreciate this through gratitude.

Gratitude is not innate; it is something we must learn and practice. Our natural tendency is to focus on the negative, a survival mechanism that makes us more aware of problems than blessings. This negativity bias means it takes multiple positive experiences to outweigh a single negative one. Scripture encourages us to make gratitude our life's framework, as seen in Paul's letters to the Thessalonians and Colossians, where he urges believers to give thanks in all circumstances.

The concept of "thinking is thanking" suggests that when we think rightly, we see everything as a gift. This perspective transforms our view of the world, making it impossible to think without gratitude. Robert Evans outlines four facets of gratitude: intensity, frequency, span, and density. Intensity asks how deeply we feel gratitude, while frequency considers how often we experience it. Span examines whether our gratitude is limited to specific areas or encompasses all aspects of life. Density looks at how many people we are thankful for, encouraging us to build a community of gratitude.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we are invited to reflect on the cornucopia of gifts in our lives. From the beauty of creation to the blessings of providence, from the written word of God to the relationships that enrich our lives, we have much to be thankful for. By practicing gratitude with intensity, frequency, span, and density, we can cultivate a life filled with joy and thankfulness.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Abundance: Unlike the mythological gods, our God offers true abundance, not just in material wealth but in spiritual richness—love, joy, and peace. Recognizing this abundance invites us to see life as a gift and to cultivate gratitude in our hearts. [02:06]

2. Overcoming Negativity Bias: Our natural tendency is to focus on the negative, which requires us to consciously practice gratitude. By making Thanksgiving our life's framework, as encouraged by Scripture, we can shift our focus from problems to blessings. [03:15]

3. Thinking is Thanking: The concept that "thinking is thanking" suggests that when we think rightly, we see everything as a gift. This perspective transforms our view of the world, making it impossible to think without gratitude. [04:02]

4. Facets of Gratitude: Robert Evans outlines four facets of gratitude: intensity, frequency, span, and density. By practicing gratitude in these areas, we can cultivate a life filled with joy and thankfulness. [05:04]

5. Reflecting on Life's Cornucopia: As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we are invited to reflect on the cornucopia of gifts in our lives, from the beauty of creation to the blessings of providence, and to express gratitude for these gifts. [07:19]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:31] - Thanksgiving Traditions
- [00:59] - The Myth of the Cornucopia
- [02:06] - God's Abundance
- [02:35] - Learning Gratitude
- [03:15] - Scripture's Call to Thanksgiving
- [04:02] - Thinking is Thanking
- [05:04] - Four Facets of Gratitude
- [06:21] - Density of Gratitude
- [07:19] - Thanksgiving Reflection
- [08:02] - Life's Cornucopia
- [09:31] - Spiritual Blessings
- [10:10] - Unexpected Gifts

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Cultivating Gratitude

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
2. Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

#### Observation Questions
1. What is the significance of the cornucopia in the context of Thanksgiving, and how does it relate to the concept of God's abundance? [00:59]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between the mythological gods and the God of the Bible in terms of abundance? [02:06]
3. What are the four facets of gratitude mentioned in the sermon, and how do they contribute to a life filled with thankfulness? [05:04]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of "thinking is thanking"? [04:02]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the negativity bias affect our ability to practice gratitude, and what steps can be taken to overcome it according to the sermon? [02:49]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that gratitude can transform our perspective on life and the world around us? [04:33]
3. How do the Bible passages from 1 Thessalonians and Colossians encourage believers to incorporate gratitude into their daily lives?
4. What role does community play in cultivating gratitude, as discussed in the sermon? [06:21]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you focused more on the negative than the positive. How can you consciously shift your perspective to gratitude in similar situations in the future? [02:49]
2. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to feel grateful. What practical steps can you take to increase your gratitude in that area? [05:52]
3. Think of someone in your life who has been a blessing to you. How can you express your gratitude to them this week? [06:21]
4. How can you incorporate the practice of "thinking is thanking" into your daily routine? What specific actions can you take to remind yourself of the gifts in your life? [04:02]
5. Choose one of the four facets of gratitude (intensity, frequency, span, density) to focus on this week. What specific actions will you take to develop this aspect of gratitude in your life? [05:04]
6. Reflect on the "cornucopia of gifts" in your life. What are three specific things you are thankful for today, and how can you express that gratitude to God? [07:19]
7. How can you encourage others in your community to cultivate a spirit of gratitude? What role can you play in building a "community of gratitude"? [06:21]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing God's True Abundance
God's abundance is not limited to material wealth but extends to spiritual richness, offering love, joy, and peace. Unlike mythological gods, the true God provides a life filled with spiritual gifts that invite us to see life itself as a gift. Recognizing this abundance encourages us to cultivate gratitude in our hearts, acknowledging the divine generosity that permeates our existence. By embracing this perspective, we can transform our lives into a continuous expression of thankfulness. [02:06]

"For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper." (Deuteronomy 8:7-9, ESV)

Reflection: What are three spiritual gifts in your life that you often overlook? How can you express gratitude for them today?


Day 2: Shifting Focus from Negativity to Gratitude
Our natural tendency is to focus on the negative, a survival mechanism that often overshadows our awareness of blessings. This negativity bias requires us to consciously practice gratitude, as encouraged by Scripture, to shift our focus from problems to blessings. By making Thanksgiving our life's framework, we can train our minds to recognize and appreciate the abundance around us, transforming our perspective and enriching our lives. [03:15]

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one negative thought pattern you struggle with. How can you replace it with a practice of gratitude today?


Day 3: Embracing the Concept of "Thinking is Thanking"
The idea that "thinking is thanking" suggests that when we think rightly, we see everything as a gift. This perspective transforms our view of the world, making it impossible to think without gratitude. By aligning our thoughts with this mindset, we can cultivate a heart that naturally responds with thankfulness, recognizing the divine gifts in every aspect of our lives. [04:02]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to see God's gifts? How can you begin to view it through the lens of gratitude?


Day 4: Practicing the Four Facets of Gratitude
Robert Evans outlines four facets of gratitude: intensity, frequency, span, and density. Intensity asks how deeply we feel gratitude, while frequency considers how often we experience it. Span examines whether our gratitude is limited to specific areas or encompasses all aspects of life. Density looks at how many people we are thankful for, encouraging us to build a community of gratitude. By practicing gratitude in these areas, we can cultivate a life filled with joy and thankfulness. [05:04]

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

Reflection: Which facet of gratitude do you find most challenging to practice? How can you intentionally work on it this week?


Day 5: Reflecting on Life's Cornucopia of Gifts
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we are invited to reflect on the cornucopia of gifts in our lives, from the beauty of creation to the blessings of providence. By expressing gratitude for these gifts, we acknowledge the richness of our lives and the divine generosity that sustains us. This reflection encourages us to live with a heart full of thankfulness, recognizing the abundance that surrounds us every day. [07:19]

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one unexpected gift in your life that you can thank God for today? How can you share this gratitude with others?

Quotes


but then of course in the tradition of the people of Israel and uh those of us who follow Jesus our God is a very different God the story of our God and His goodness and he is a god of abundance there is plenty with our God not just in terms of material good but of spiritual good of love and joy and peace and he wants to make that available all the time and all of life is a gift [00:02:06]

and so we are invited in the scripture to make Thanksgiving our frame of reference for life so Paul writes in first Thessalonians 5 Rejoice always pray without ceasing give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for your life give thanks all the time or in Colossians chapter 3 verse 17 at the climax of this great run of what a good life looks like Paul says whatever you do and where do you do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to God the Father through him make thanks a part of what you do all the time [00:03:15]

and apparently even in English in Old English both the word think and the word thank initially were thunk t-h-a-n-c they came from the same root and the idea behind it is that if I'm thinking rightly I will see everything that I look at these books behind me the people who wrote them the folks who would publish them people who drive trucks to deliver them the chair on which I sit the Earth at which I look from inside here it's all a gift it's all a gift it's all a gift and if I'm thinking rightly thinking is thinking it simply becomes impossible to think about anything without seeing that even my ability to think is a gift for which I am to be thankful [00:04:02]

Robert Evans talks about four facets of Thanksgiving so as you move forward when you keep thanks we're going to stop the Gratitude challenge today but you keep it going I'm Gonna Keep it going he talks about these four facets to be a thankful person one is intensity um do I feel gratitude weekly or I think about Deborah Tannen wrote about her aunt who is obese and balding and elderly and she fell in love with the man and she was telling him about a lunch one time and he asked her what did you wear and she was recounting that to Deborah afterwards said do you have any idea how long it's been since somebody asked me what I wore she was intensely grateful that someone was paying attention to her [00:05:04]

and then there's frequency of gratitude do I experience it often my friend Gary was saying when he wakes up in the morning he's an atheist until he gets coffee and can take a look at the Bible so when I wake up do I experience gratitude when I go to sleep at the end of the day all through the day what's the frequency of gratitude and then span of gratitude do I tend to restrict it to just one thing to food or physical pleasure or am I obsessed with my work so I'm only grateful when that goes well am I aware of what a gift my health is if I am I aware of what a gift it is to be able to learn or to be able to talk or to look at the broad range of gifts of life so that's uh the issue of what's the span of my gratitude [00:06:21]

and then there's what's called density of gratitude and that's um how many people am I thankful for it's striking that the Apostle Paul over and over and over when he would write to people he would say I thank my God upon every remembrance of you well I'll think about that when I look at my wife and I watch the way that she is interested in people and will ask questions to connect with them in ways that just would not occur to me and it creates this thick network is too workish uh strategic a word to use web community of heartfelt connections that leads to great joy and great gratitude [00:07:19]

so I want to think about my life in a way that leads to gratitude to think is to thank and I want it to be done with great intensity and uh across a widespan and with regular frequency increasing frequency and with great density for all the people in my life so now so now today is Thanksgiving would it take a few moments for you and me to give thanks to God [00:08:02]

what gifts from God are in my life's cornucopia the blessings of creation surging oceans miles of clean sand and dunes along freshwater lakes murmuring streams still pause on which Canadian geese ski to a stop flowers shrubs shrubs trees birds that sing in the trees thank you God woodpeckers then answer each other and ratat staccato they didn't have to exist Landscapes seascapes Mountain Vistas the taste of sweet corn fresh fish colorful berries the feel of a puppy's coat thank you God [00:09:31]

the blessings of Providence rescue in time of trouble avoidance of trouble bad things that never happened food drink restful sleep wise and loving friends who would not dream of saying I told you so life crises that changed us for good pointing us in a different direction thank you God [00:10:10]

the written word of God in Scripture forgiveness of sin resurrection of the body life Everlasting hope and love and friendship through Jesus thank you God guys who get in their pickups and travel hundreds of miles to provide disaster relief for strangers parents children dogs that howl affectingly when hearing a violin angels that visit us when we are not looking [00:11:02]

and so we're invited to see that taste and see that the Lord is good and we have to do this we have to be attentive to it learning uh gratitude is something that we learn because we're all victims of what's sometimes called the negativity bias it takes five positive comments to overcome the power of one negative one um because survival favors those who are able to see when there's a problem we all skew in that direction somebody I don't know who it was put it this way uh it just takes one cockroach to spoil a Whole Bowl of Cherries but on the other hand a single Cherry does nothing to improve a bowl full of cockroaches [00:02:35]

there was an old pietist expression in the 17th century uh in in German which was that language where it was originally formed it was simply the expression thinking is thinking [00:04:02]

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Transcript
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