Gratitude and Worry

Devotional

Day 1: Gratitude Overcomes Worry by Trusting God’s Provision

Gratitude is a powerful antidote to worry because it assumes that God, as a loving Father, will provide for every need. When you choose to be grateful, you are actively placing your trust in God’s faithfulness rather than allowing anxiety to take root. Just as children trust their parents to provide food and shelter, and as God provided manna and water for the Israelites in the wilderness, you are invited to rest in the assurance that God knows your needs and delights in caring for you. Practicing gratitude shifts your focus from what you lack to the abundance of God’s daily provision, freeing your heart from the grip of worry. [06:54]

Luke 12:22-31 (ESV)
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God’s provision? Today, can you thank Him in advance for meeting that need and release your worry to Him?

Day 2: Renewing Your Mind with Gratitude

Worry often becomes a mental loop, replaying negative thoughts and anxieties over and over, creating deep grooves in your mind. But gratitude has the power to transform your thought patterns, replacing worry with peace and joy. By intentionally focusing on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, you can renew your mind and experience God’s peace guarding your heart. This daily discipline of gratitude is not about ignoring problems, but about choosing to meditate on God’s goodness and faithfulness, allowing His truth to reshape your inner life. [25:20]

Philippians 4:4-9 (ESV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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. 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. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Reflection: What negative thought or worry has been looping in your mind lately? How can you intentionally replace it with a specific truth or reason for gratitude today?

Day 3: Living One Day at a Time with Thankfulness

Gratitude teaches you to live in the present, trusting God for today’s needs rather than being consumed by tomorrow’s uncertainties. Jesus invites you to pray for “daily bread,” reminding you that God’s grace is sufficient for each day. Like the birds and flowers, you are called to enjoy the moment, free from the burden of future anxieties. By focusing on today and expressing thanks for God’s current blessings, you can experience greater peace and contentment, knowing that God holds your future in His hands. [14:23]

Matthew 6:31-34 (ESV)
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Reflection: What is one way you can practice being present and grateful for today, rather than worrying about what might happen tomorrow?

Day 4: Guarding Your Heart as an Altar of Worship

Your heart is an altar—a sacred place of worship where your affections and priorities are set. Guarding your heart means daily setting your mind on the Lord, inviting Him into your worries, and choosing gratitude as an act of worship. As you do this, you create space for God’s presence to dwell within you, shaping your responses to life’s challenges. By making gratitude your first response each morning, you align your heart with God’s kingdom and allow His peace to rule over your anxieties. [22:04]

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Reflection: When you wake up tomorrow, what is one practical way you can set your heart and mind on the Lord first, making your heart an altar of gratitude?

Day 5: Gratitude Keeps Your Priorities on God’s Kingdom

Gratitude helps you keep your priorities straight by seeking first the kingdom of God and trusting that everything else will fall into place. When you are thankful for who God is and what He has done, your focus shifts from self-centered concerns to God’s purposes and promises. This perspective guards you from being consumed by worry and helps you live with wisdom, reverence, and joy. As you cultivate a grateful heart, you are empowered to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, trusting that all God’s promises are “yes and amen” in Him. [18:11]

2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV)
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to realign your priorities with God’s kingdom? How can gratitude help you make that shift today?

Sermon Summary

Gratitude and worry are two powerful forces that shape our daily lives. Many of us are well-acquainted with worry—about our health, our families, our future, and our provision. Worry often sneaks in through “what if” questions, and it can feel like a stranglehold on our minds and hearts. But God’s desire is not for us to live in a state of anxiety, but in harmony with Him, experiencing His peace and joy. Gratitude is a spiritual discipline that helps us break free from the grip of worry. When we practice gratitude, we shift our focus from our fears and uncertainties to the faithfulness and goodness of God.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians, written from a prison cell, is a profound example of joy and gratitude in the midst of uncertainty. He encourages us to rejoice always, to pray, and to give thanks in every circumstance. This posture of gratitude is not just a nice idea—it’s a transformative way of living that guards our hearts and minds with God’s peace, a peace that surpasses human understanding.

Worry, by its very nature, chokes out joy and peace. It turns us inward, making us self-focused and blind to the needs and blessings around us. Worry is ultimately a spiritual issue because it displaces God from His rightful place in our lives. Jesus teaches us not to worry about our needs, reminding us of God’s care for the birds and the flowers—creatures who do not fret about tomorrow, yet are provided for by their Creator. Gratitude, then, is rooted in the assumption that God will provide for us, just as He has always provided for His people.

Living with gratitude also means living day by day, trusting God for our daily bread and not being consumed by the uncertainties of tomorrow. It means remembering and holding fast to God’s promises—eternal life, joy, and peace in Christ—even when life is hard. Gratitude keeps our priorities aligned with God’s kingdom, helping us to seek Him first and trust that all else will be added in His timing and way.

Our hearts are like altars, places of worship where we can daily set our affections on the Lord. By intentionally setting our minds on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, we renew our minds and invite God’s peace to rule in our lives. Even in seasons of worry, we are invited to bring our concerns to Jesus, knowing He is not anxious and that He welcomes us to cast our cares upon Him. Through gratitude, we are filled with the Spirit, strengthened in faith, and able to live with joy and peace, no matter our circumstances.

Key Takeaways

1. Worry is a spiritual battle that displaces God from His rightful place in our lives. When we worry, we are tempted to trust ourselves rather than God, forgetting His faithfulness and goodness. The story of Scripture is a continual invitation to trust God, even when circumstances are uncertain. Choosing gratitude is an act of re-centering our hearts on God’s sovereignty and care. [03:33]
2. Gratitude is rooted in the assumption that God will provide. Like children who trust their parents for daily needs, we are called to trust our Heavenly Father for provision. The story of George Mueller and the miraculous provision for his orphanage is a powerful reminder that God delights in meeting our needs when we come to Him with thankful hearts. [09:55]
3. Worry is a waste of time and energy, often creating mental grooves that reinforce anxiety. Neuroscience confirms what Scripture teaches: our thought patterns can be transformed by focusing on gratitude and God’s promises. By renewing our minds and meditating on what is true and good, we create new pathways for peace and joy to flourish. [12:33]
4. Living with gratitude teaches us to embrace each day as a gift and to trust God for our daily bread. Jesus points to the birds and flowers as examples of living in the present, free from anxiety about the future. Gratitude grounds us in the present moment, helping us to enjoy God’s blessings and to trust Him with what we cannot control. [16:18]
5. Our hearts are altars of worship, and what we set our affections on shapes our lives. By daily setting our hearts and minds on the Lord, and by thinking on what is excellent and praiseworthy, we guard our hearts from worry and invite God’s peace to dwell within us. Even in seasons of anxiety, we are invited to bring our worries to Jesus, who is never anxious and who offers us His peace. [22:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:38] - The Reality of Worry
[01:22] - God’s Desire: Peace, Not Worry
[02:08] - Paul’s Joyful Example from Prison
[03:33] - The Nature and Effects of Worry
[04:21] - Jesus’ Teaching on Worry
[06:09] - Seek First the Kingdom
[06:54] - Gratitude Assumes God’s Provision
[08:07] - George Mueller’s Story of Provision
[10:37] - Worry is a Waste of Time
[12:33] - Renewing the Mind Through Gratitude
[13:45] - Living Day by Day
[16:18] - Trusting God’s Promises
[18:11] - Keeping Kingdom Priorities
[20:13] - Guarding Your Heart as an Altar
[22:42] - Setting Your Heart and Mind on the Lord
[23:23] - Inviting Jesus Into Our Worry
[25:20] - Thinking on What is Excellent
[26:41] - Gratitude and Communion
[35:31] - The Meaning of Communion
[41:25] - Our Identity in Christ
[42:06] - Communion: Remembering Jesus
[43:28] - Blessing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Philippians 4:4-9 (ESV) — > Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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.
> 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. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV) — > “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Observation Questions

According to Philippians 4, what are we told to do instead of worrying? What is the promised result if we do this?
In Matthew 6, what examples does Jesus use to show us why we shouldn’t worry?
The sermon mentions that worry “strangles your mind, steals your joy, and it steals your peace.” What does the word “worry” literally mean, and how does that help us understand its effect? [03:33]
What does the sermon say about the relationship between gratitude and worry? Can they exist together? [03:33]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that worry is a spiritual issue because it “displaces God in my life.” What does it mean for worry to move God off His rightful throne in our lives? [03:33]
Jesus tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God.” How does this command relate to the way we handle our worries and daily needs? [06:09]
The story of George Mueller was shared as an example of trusting God’s provision. What does this story teach us about the connection between gratitude and faith? [09:55]
The sermon describes our hearts as “altars” and places of worship. How does this image help us understand how to deal with worry and set our minds on God? [22:42]

Application Questions

The sermon says that worry often sneaks in through “what if” questions. What are some “what if” questions that tend to fill your mind? How do these affect your daily life? [00:38]
When you find yourself worrying, what is one practical way you could shift your focus to gratitude, as Paul encourages in Philippians 4? [02:08]
Jesus points to the birds and flowers as examples of living in the present and trusting God. What would it look like for you to live more “day by day,” trusting God for your daily needs? [16:18]
The sermon says that gratitude is a spiritual discipline that helps us break free from worry. What is one thing you can do this week to intentionally practice gratitude, especially when you feel anxious? [02:08]
The story of George Mueller shows God’s faithfulness in providing for needs. Can you think of a time when God provided for you in a way you didn’t expect? How did that experience affect your trust in Him? [09:55]
The sermon talks about “renewing your mind” and thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. What is one negative thought pattern you want to replace, and what truth from God’s Word can you focus on instead? [25:20]
The pastor encouraged us to “invite Jesus into your worry.” What would it look like for you to do this in a specific area of your life right now? [23:23]

Sermon Clips

Here's some facts about worry. Strangles your mind, steals your joy, and it steals your peace. The word that we have in English for worry comes from an old English word that literally meant to choke, and it literally meant to grab the throat. So, when I'm worrying, worry has me shoved up against a wall with his hand around my neck. That's what worry is. That's what that word literally means. [00:03:00] (32 seconds) #WorryChokesJoy

Worry makes us selfish because we're focused all on ourselves, and we're unaware of what's going on around us and the people around us. And worry and gratitude cannot coexist. It's hard to worry and be grateful at the same time. [00:03:33] (18 seconds) #GratitudeOverSelfishness

Why is worry a sin? Worry is a sin because it displaces God in my life. Throughout the totality of Scripture from the Garden of Eden on, there is this story of, will I trust God or not? Can God be trusted? Is God good? And thus, worry creeps in when we worry and we move God off His rightful throne in our lives. [00:03:53] (30 seconds) #TrustGodNotWorry

We're told in Peter to cast our worries upon the Lord. And so, when you worry, or if you're in a season of worry right now, my encouragement would be invite Jesus into your worry. Invite him in. Don't hide from him. Don't be embarrassed that you have worry. Don't get filled with shame, and you're not, I'm not a really strong Christian. I have enough faith. Why do I worry so much? No, that's not Jesus. The Father does not shame his kids. Invite Jesus into your worries, into your concerns. [00:23:23] (39 seconds) #OvercomeWorryWithGratitude

May you overcome worry through having a grateful heart. May you overcome the anxieties in your life, with gratefulness and trust in the person and the work of the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit. May the love of God the Father, the grace of our Lord Jesus, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, permeate your life. [00:43:28] (32 seconds)

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