Give Thanks

Psalm 105:1 opens with a simple call: “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.” The word *yada* means more than having a thankful feeling. It means openly acknowledging what God has done. Thanksgiving, then, is not just a holiday on the calendar. It is a rhythm, a practice, and a way of living.

Joy goes deeper than happiness. Happiness rises and falls with what is happening today, this week, or yesterday. Jesus, in John 15, roots joy in abiding in his love, the deep connection with the Father that remains even when circumstances shift. The fruit of that abiding is not fragile happiness but joy that overflows.

Foreboding joy shows up through the “yeah, but” thoughts that creep in when life is good. Fear of loss whispers that good things cannot last, that every blessing is just waiting to fall apart. James counters that lie by saying every good and perfect gift comes from the Father, who does not change or cast a shifting shadow. The story of Job does not create a picture of God as the one looking to take things away. Job’s story reveals a God who restores.

Gratitude pushes back against those automatic negative thoughts because gratitude remembers. Philippians 4 gives the order clearly: pray about everything, tell God what is needed, and thank him for all he has done. Peace follows thanksgiving. Psalm 103 warns that without remembering God’s good things, hearts forget them.

David gives thanks first when the ark comes back to Jerusalem. First Chronicles 16 shows that David does not begin by celebrating himself, building something, or making a big plan. David appoints people to praise, remember, sing, and tell everyone about God’s wonderful deeds. Thanks is the first response.

Grateful hearts create faith-filled lives because gratitude keeps the Giver in view. Faith does not chase rewards, but God rewards those who sincerely seek him because he is a good Father. Thanksgiving becomes an offering of praise, even when life is hard. Jeremiah’s hope begins with remembering that the faithful love of the Lord never ends and his mercies are new every morning.

Communion puts that gratitude right in front of the church. Jesus gave thanks on the night he was betrayed, knowing the cross was coming. The bread and cup remember his broken body, his spilled blood, and the everlasting covenant that opened the path back to the Father. Give thanks, remember his goodness, and let the people nearby hear what he has done.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Joy grows through abiding in Christ Joy is not the same thing as having a good week or getting the outcome that was wanted. Jesus ties overflowing joy to remaining in his love, just as he remains in the Father’s love. Deep joy comes from connection with Christ, not control over circumstances. [43:22]
• 2. “Yeah, but” thinking steals joy Foreboding joy expects loss before it ever happens. That fear can make a person pull back from receiving God’s good gifts with an open heart. God’s character is steadier than the shadowy expectations that blessings must always be followed by disaster. [45:24]
• 3. Gratitude makes room for peace Thanksgiving is not denial of worry or pretending that trouble is not real. Philippians places thanks right in the middle of prayer, before the promise of peace guarding hearts and minds. Remembering what God has already done teaches the heart to trust him in what has not happened yet. [49:53]
• 4. Thanks should be the first response David responded to the ark’s return by appointing people to praise God and tell his story. Gratitude keeps success from becoming self-congratulation and turns blessings into worship. A thankful response gives God the credit before fear, pride, or forgetfulness can take over. [56:09]
• 5. Communion remembers the Giver’s sacrifice Jesus gave thanks even on the night of betrayal, with the cross directly ahead. The bread and cup call believers to remember that Christ’s body and blood created an everlasting covenant with God. Gratitude at the Lord’s table is rooted in redemption, not merely in favorable circumstances. [1:08:47]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:44] - Beginning the Give Thanks Series
• [36:59] - Give Thanks and Proclaim His Greatness
• [38:56] - The “Yeah, But” Habit
• [40:12] - Joy, Foreboding Joy, and Gratitude
• [43:09] - Abiding in Christ’s Joy
• [44:53] - Fear of Loss and God’s Good Gifts
• [48:24] - Practicing Gratitude
• [49:53] - Thanksgiving Brings God’s Peace
• [54:37] - Psalm 105 and the Ark Returns
• [56:09] - Thanks Is the First Response
• [57:02] - Tell the Story Out Loud
• [59:38] - Grateful Hearts and Faith-Filled Lives
• [1:03:08] - Hope When Life Is Hard
• [1:04:25] - Communion and Giving Thanks

Bible Reading

Psalm 105:1
“Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!” [36:59]

Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” [49:53]

John 15:9-11
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” [43:09]

Observation questions

1. In Psalm 105:1, what three actions are connected with giving thanks to the Lord?
2. In John 15:9–11, what does Jesus connect with remaining in His love, and what result does He promise for those who do? [43:42]
3. In Philippians 4:6–7, what are believers told to do with their worries, needs, and thanksgiving before God’s peace is described?
4. What did David do after the ark returned to Jerusalem, and how did he involve other people in remembering God’s goodness? [56:22]

Interpretation questions

1. Why is giving thanks in Psalm 105 more than simply feeling thankful? What does openly telling what God has done show about who receives the credit? [37:18]
2. Jesus says that joy comes through abiding in His love. How does this help distinguish lasting joy from happiness that depends on a good week or favorable circumstances? [44:30]
3. Philippians 4 places thanksgiving in the middle of prayer. Why might remembering and thanking God for what He has already done help guard a believer’s heart when a present need is still unresolved? [50:06]
4. David’s first response to the ark’s return was worship rather than self-celebration or another plan. What does this reveal about the role gratitude should have after a success, provision, or answered prayer? [56:22]

Application questions

1. What “yeah, but” thought most often interrupts your enjoyment of a good gift from God? What would it look like to answer that thought with a specific thank-you to God? [45:05]
2. Think about one current worry. How could you use the pattern in Philippians 4 this week: tell God what you need, thank Him for what He has done, and ask for His peace? [49:53]
3. Where have you been tempted to call God’s provision “luck,” “good timing,” or simply the result of your own effort? How can you intentionally give God credit in that area? [52:32]
4. What is one specific example of God’s goodness that you could tell out loud to a family member, friend, coworker, neighbor, or classmate this week? [01:02:51]
5. When life is difficult, what past mercy, provision, or evidence of God’s faithfulness can you remember to give hope today? [01:03:29]
6. What simple rhythm could help you practice gratitude daily—an alarm, a note on your phone, sharing thanks at a meal, or a short prayer at the end of the day? [01:06:15]
7. How does remembering Christ’s body broken and blood poured out shape gratitude even when circumstances are painful or uncertain? [01:09:21]