Gratitude Through the Grind: Choosing Joy Daily

New Series Entitled “Gratitude is my attitude!”. This Sunday’s sermon, Gratitude through the Grind was from the text, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Devotional

Day 1: Rejoice Continually—Choosing Joy Regardless of Circumstances

Gratitude is not dependent on what you see around you, but on the decision you make each day to rejoice in the Lord’s goodness, even when life feels like a grind. True joy is not an emotion that comes and goes with your circumstances; it is a posture of the heart, a daily choice to celebrate God’s faithfulness and presence, no matter what you’re facing. When you wake up, before you check your phone or worry about your problems, pause and thank God for another day, for His love, and for the fact that you are in His hands. This kind of rejoicing is a command, not a suggestion, and it transforms your perspective, reminding you that your situation does not determine your joy—God does. [33:44]

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: What is one area of your life where you’ve been letting circumstances steal your joy? How can you intentionally choose to rejoice in God today, even if nothing changes on the outside?


Day 2: Pray Constantly—Staying Connected to God in Every Season

A life of gratitude is undergirded by a life of prayer. When you pray without ceasing, you are turning your attention from your problems to the God who is bigger than them. Prayer is not about fancy words or long speeches; sometimes the most powerful prayer is simply, “Lord, have mercy,” or “Lord, give me strength.” God cares about every detail of your life, and He invites you to bring it all to Him—big or small. As you keep coming to God, even with short, honest prayers, you’ll find that He gives you strength, lifts your attitude, and grows your gratitude, reminding you that you are never alone in the grind of life. [40:00]

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV)
Pray without ceasing.

Reflection: What is one burden you’ve been carrying or talking about with others, but haven’t truly brought to God in prayer? Will you take a moment today to give it to Him honestly and simply?


Day 3: Give Thanks in Everything—Gratitude as a Daily Practice

Giving thanks is not about ignoring your struggles or pretending everything is perfect; it’s about acknowledging God’s grace and choosing to magnify Him above your problems. Paul doesn’t say to give thanks for everything, but in everything—meaning that no matter what you’re facing, you can still find a reason to thank God for His presence, His provision, and His sustaining power. Living on Gratitude Drive instead of Grumbling Avenue is a daily decision, and your words have the power to shape your outlook and your life. When you intentionally give thanks, you move from focusing on what’s missing to celebrating what God has already done and is doing in your life. [53:22]

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Reflection: Think of a current challenge or disappointment. What is one specific thing you can thank God for in the midst of it today?


Day 4: Your Perspective Shapes Your Experience—Move from Grumbling Avenue to Gratitude Drive

How you look at your circumstances determines whether you become bitter or better. You can choose to focus on what’s wrong and live on Grumbling Avenue, or you can shift your perspective and move to Gratitude Drive, where you see God’s hand even in hard times. Gratitude is not about denying pain, but about recognizing God’s faithfulness in the midst of it. When you change your address from grumbling to gratitude, you begin to see blessings you might have missed, and your words start to bring life and hope to yourself and those around you. [54:44]

Philippians 4:11-13 (NKJV)
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Reflection: What is one complaint or negative pattern of speech you need to let go of? How can you replace it with words of gratitude today?


Day 5: Fresh Starts and New Mercies—God’s Grace for Every Day

The Christian life is a journey of fresh starts, and each day God gives new grace and new mercy. No matter how many times you’ve fallen short, God is always ready to help you begin again, to see more clearly how He’s been with you, and to strengthen you for what’s ahead. You are evidence of God’s goodness, and He promises to get you right where He wants you to be. Don’t let yesterday’s failures or today’s grind keep you from receiving the fresh start God offers—His mercies are new every morning, and He is faithful to walk with you every step of the way. [01:06:51]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Reflection: Where do you need a fresh start in your walk with God? What is one step you can take today to receive His new mercies and begin again?

Sermon Summary

In this season, we are called to cultivate a spirit of gratitude, not just as a fleeting feeling, but as a daily, intentional practice—especially when life feels like a grind. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we are reminded to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything. These are not mere suggestions, but divine imperatives that shape our spiritual health and perspective, regardless of our circumstances.

Life has both celebration and survival sides. There are days when gratitude flows easily, and others when it feels like hard work. The Thessalonian church knew this well, facing loss, confusion, and opposition. Yet, Paul does not promise them that things will get easier. Instead, he challenges them—and us—to choose where we will live: on Grumbling Avenue or Gratitude Drive. Gratitude is not conditional on our situation; it is rooted in the One who sustains us through every trial.

Rejoicing continually is a posture, not an emotion. It is a decision to celebrate God’s goodness, even when external circumstances give us little reason to do so. Our joy is not anchored in what we have, but in whose hands we are held. Like Dr. Maya Angelou, who declared each day wonderful simply because it was a day she had never seen, we too can choose to see God’s new mercies every morning.

Prayer is the practice that undergirds our gratitude. It is not about eloquence or length, but about turning our attention from our problems to God’s presence. Sometimes the most powerful prayer is simply, “Lord, have mercy.” When we pray, we are reminded that we are not alone, and that God cares about every detail of our lives—there is no problem too big or too small for Him.

Giving thanks in everything is the consistent expression of gratitude. We are not called to give thanks for every hardship, but to find reasons to thank God in the midst of them. This shift in perspective moves us from grumbling to gratitude, from focusing on what we lack to celebrating what God has provided. Our words and attitudes have the power to change our spiritual address and transform our experience of life’s grind.

Key Takeaways
  • 1. Rejoicing is a daily decision, not a feeling Choosing to rejoice is an act of faith, especially when circumstances are difficult. Joy is not dependent on what we see, but on the assurance of God’s presence and faithfulness. Each day, we can decide to celebrate God’s goodness, even when life feels uncertain or overwhelming. This decision shapes our outlook and strengthens our spirit. [33:44]
  • 2. Prayer shifts our focus from problems to God Persistent prayer is not about fancy words, but about honest, continual conversation with God. When we bring our burdens to Him, we are reminded that we are not alone and that He is working on our behalf. Prayer is the lifeline that keeps us connected to God’s strength, especially when we feel weak or overwhelmed. [40:00]
  • 3. Gratitude transforms our perspective in hardship Giving thanks in everything does not mean ignoring pain, but choosing to see God’s grace in the midst of it. Gratitude is a spiritual discipline that lifts our hearts and opens our eyes to God’s provision. When we intentionally thank God, even in difficulty, we move from a posture of complaint to one of trust and hope. [53:22]
  • 4. Your words and attitude shape your spiritual address Where you “live” spiritually—on Grumbling Avenue or Gratitude Drive—is determined by the words you speak and the perspective you choose. Speaking life and gratitude, even in small things, can change your experience and influence those around you. God invites us to move our hearts and lips toward gratitude, trusting that He is at work even when we cannot see it. [58:53]
Youtube Chapters
  • [00:00] - Welcome
  • [24:49] - Greeting and Series Introduction
  • [25:29] - Purpose: Cultivating Daily Gratitude
  • [27:10] - Life’s Grind and Thessalonian Context
  • [28:55] - Challenges Facing the Early Church
  • [29:58] - Choosing Gratitude Over Grumbling
  • [31:07] - The Three Commands: Rejoice, Pray, Give
  • [33:37] - Rejoice Continually: The Posture of Gratitude
  • [35:22] - Joy as a Decision, Not Emotion
  • [39:07] - Pray Constantly: The Practice of Gratitude
  • [40:25] - Prayer Changes Our Perspective
  • [47:38] - You Are Not Alone in the Grind
  • [53:22] - Give Thanks Consistently: The Expression of Gratitude
  • [55:49] - Moving from Grumbling Avenue to Gratitude Drive
  • [58:53] - The Power of Words and Perspective
  • [61:29] - Invitation to Salvation and Fresh Starts
  • [70:01] - Offering and Stewardship
  • [77:08] - Announcements and Ministry Highlights
  • [83:01] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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.

Observation Questions
  1. What three commands does Paul give in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, and how are they connected?
  2. According to the sermon, what kind of circumstances was the Thessalonian church facing when Paul wrote these words? [[28:55]]
  3. How does the sermon describe the difference between “Grumbling Avenue” and “Gratitude Drive”? [[31:07]]
  4. What does the pastor say is the difference between rejoicing as a feeling and rejoicing as a decision? [[35:48]]
Interpretation Questions
  1. Why do you think Paul commands believers to rejoice, pray, and give thanks “always” and “in everything,” even when life is hard? What does this reveal about God’s will for us? [[31:31]]
  2. The sermon says that gratitude is not based on our situation, but on “who’s keeping you despite what’s happening.” How does this perspective change the way someone might respond to difficult times? [[31:31]]
  3. The pastor mentions that prayer is not about fancy words, but about turning our attention from our problems to God. Why might this be important for someone going through a tough season? [[40:00]]
  4. How can the words we speak and the attitudes we hold actually “change our spiritual address,” as the pastor puts it? [[58:53]]
Application Questions
  1. The sermon challenges us to “choose where we will live: on Grumbling Avenue or Gratitude Drive.” This week, what is one area of your life where you tend to grumble? What would it look like to move to Gratitude Drive in that area? [[31:07]]
  2. The pastor said, “Rejoicing is a daily decision, not a feeling.” Think about your morning routine. What is one practical way you can choose to rejoice before your day even starts? [[33:44]]
  3. When you face a problem, do you tend to talk to others about it more than you pray about it? What would it look like to “get it out” in prayer first, even if it’s just a simple “Lord, have mercy”? [[45:06]]
  4. The sermon gave examples of people who found reasons to thank God even in hard times (like Dr. Maya Angelou and the story of being robbed). Can you share a time when you found something to be grateful for in a difficult situation? How did it affect your outlook? [[38:21]] [[01:00:28]]
  5. The pastor said, “Giving thanks in everything does not mean ignoring pain, but choosing to see God’s grace in the midst of it.” Is there a current hardship where you can look for God’s grace? What might that look like for you? [[53:22]]
  6. The sermon talks about how our words and attitudes can influence those around us. Who in your life might be affected if you started speaking more gratitude and less complaint? How could you encourage them this week? [[58:53]]
  7. The pastor mentioned that sometimes God doesn’t change our situation right away, but He changes us. Is there a situation where you’ve seen God change your heart or attitude, even if the problem didn’t go away? What did you learn from that experience? [[48:16]]

Sermon Clips

Life is about perspective. One person sees a wall. Another person sees something that the Lord is going to knock down. One person sees a valley. Another person sees that I've got to go through this. This ain't my final chapter. It's just a chapter of my life. But God is still writing my story. [00:34:12] (19 seconds)  #PerspectiveIsPower

Sometime my life gets shaky, but I'm in his hand. Sometime life get heavy, but I'm in his hand. Sometime I can't see my way, but I'm in his hand. You ain't in the government hand. God's hand. [00:37:11] (36 seconds)  #SafeInGodsHand

Nothing changes until you put it in God's hand. Paul says, I want you to pray, watch this, without ceasing. He's saying, keep on praying. Keep on approaching God. Stay on your knees. Stay connected to God so that what you're going through won't crush you. You'll see God slowly give you strength. [00:42:51] (26 seconds)  #KeepPrayingAlways

Paul is telling us here. Paul is saying you are not alone. Satan wants you to think that you're alone and you're by yourself. You're not alone. Taking care of your mom in this season. You're not alone. Surgery after surgery at the hospital. You're not alone. You got a good resume, but you feel underpaid. You're not alone. You can take it to God in prayer, and the God that you pray for, pray to secretly, will surely bless you openly. [00:47:42] (35 seconds)  #YouAreNotAlone

Paul is not saying give thanks for everything, but he's saying give thanks in everything, meaning whatever you have to go through, wherever you find yourself, you can still find yourself standing saying, God has been good to me for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. [00:54:00] (20 seconds)  #ThanksInEverything

You need to move from Grumbling Avenue to Gratitude Drive because people on Gratitude Drive, they sound like this. Lord, it's been hard, but you're still keeping me. Lord, I thank you for keeping me in it, through it, and bringing me out of it. God, I trust you, that when I can't see you, I know life is in the palm of your hand. [00:54:55] (21 seconds)  #FromGrumblingToGratitude

God, it don't look like the prayer working. But just because you can't see nothing on top of the surface don't mean God ain't working beneath the soil. And somebody gotta know that sometime God may take the long way because he got a special blessing with your name on it. [00:57:43] (18 seconds)  #GodWorksBeneathTheSurface

Let me say it again. The Christian life is a number of fresh starts. And each day, young man, God gives us new grace and new mercy. And then not only that, as we walk with him, we see clearer today than we did yesterday. We see how good he's been to us. We see we hadn't took one step without his strength. We see that that thing could have been a lot worse if he hadn't been in it with us. Today, you're just the evidence that God is good. And God will always get you right where he wants you to be. [01:06:44] (47 seconds)  #FreshStartsWithGod

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