Living a Life of Gratitude and Praise

Devotional

Day 1: Thanksgiving as a Continuous Journey

Thanksgiving is not just a day but a lifestyle of continuous gratitude. By remembering God's goodness, we cultivate a heart of thankfulness that transcends circumstances. This lifestyle of gratitude keeps us grounded in faith and aware of God's constant presence in our lives. Thanksgiving becomes a journey where each day is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the blessings we receive. This perspective helps us to remain joyful and content, regardless of the challenges we face. [02:57]

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate a moment of gratitude into your daily routine, ensuring that thanksgiving becomes a continuous journey rather than a one-time event?

Day 2: The Transformative Power of Remembering

Remembering God's past acts of faithfulness helps us overcome fear and inspires faith. When we recall how God has delivered us before, we gain confidence that He will do it again. This act of remembering shifts our focus from our problems to God's power and faithfulness. By intentionally recalling God's interventions in our lives, we can face current challenges with renewed hope and assurance. [19:13]

"Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered." (1 Chronicles 16:12, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a specific time when God showed His faithfulness in your life. How can recalling this memory help you face a current challenge with greater faith?

Day 3: Mindfulness in Thanksgiving

To give thanks appropriately, we must be mindful and intentional about remembering God's benefits. This mindfulness involves actively recalling God's forgiveness, healing, and redemption, which fuels our praise and deepens our relationship with Him. By being deliberate in our gratitude, we open our hearts to a deeper understanding of God's love and grace, allowing us to live more fully in His presence. [04:50]

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases." (Psalm 103:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What specific blessings from God have you overlooked recently? How can you make a conscious effort to remember and give thanks for these blessings today?

Day 4: Gratitude as a Sacrifice

As priests unto God, our sacrifice is the praise and thanksgiving we offer with our lips. This act of worship is not transactional but a genuine expression of gratitude for who God is and what He has done. It honors God and strengthens our faith. By offering our gratitude as a sacrifice, we acknowledge God's sovereignty and express our trust in His plans for our lives. [31:31]

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you offer a "sacrifice of praise" today, even if your circumstances are challenging or difficult?

Day 5: Living as Kings and Priests

We are called to live as kings and priests, offering sacrifices of praise and proclaiming God's praises. This identity reminds us of our role in God's kingdom and the importance of living a life that reflects His glory and grace. By embracing this calling, we become ambassadors of God's love, sharing His light with the world around us. [29:38]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you live out your identity as a "king and priest" today, actively proclaiming God's praises in your interactions with others?

Sermon Summary

On this Thanksgiving Sunday, we gather to celebrate the profound love and grace of God, who has given us countless reasons to be thankful. Thanksgiving is not merely a day marked on a calendar; it is a lifestyle, a continuous act of remembering and acknowledging God's goodness in our lives. As we reflect on Luke 5:17, we are reminded that the power of the Lord is always present to heal, save, and deliver. This power is not dependent on human wisdom but is a demonstration of the Spirit and power of God, ensuring that our faith rests in Him alone.

To truly give thanks, we must remember. Remembering is an intentional act of bringing to mind the experiences and blessings God has bestowed upon us. It is easy to forget, as seen in the story of the Israelites who, despite witnessing God's mighty works, quickly turned to grumbling and doubt. We, too, are prone to forgetfulness, which is why we must be deliberate in recalling God's benefits, as highlighted in Psalm 103. This Psalm encourages us to bless the Lord and not forget His benefits, which include forgiveness, healing, redemption, and satisfaction.

Remembering God's past faithfulness helps us overcome fear, inspires faith, and fuels our praise. It shifts our focus from our current challenges to the countless miracles and acts of mercy God has performed. By keeping a gratitude journal, we can document these blessings, ensuring that we remain mindful of God's goodness. This practice cultivates an attitude of gratitude, distinguishing us as Christians and making us more pleasant to be around.

As kings and priests unto God, we are called to offer sacrifices of praise, not through physical offerings but through the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. This is our ministry, our act of worship, and our way of honoring God. Let us make thankfulness our sacrifice, continually offering praise and glory to the One who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Key Takeaways

1. Thanksgiving as a Lifestyle: Thanksgiving is not confined to a specific day; it is a lifestyle of continuous gratitude. By remembering God's goodness, we cultivate a heart of thankfulness that transcends circumstances. This lifestyle of gratitude keeps us grounded in faith and aware of God's constant presence in our lives. [02:57]
2. The Power of Remembering: Remembering God's past acts of faithfulness helps us overcome fear and inspires faith. When we recall how God has delivered us before, we gain confidence that He will do it again. This act of remembering shifts our focus from our problems to God's power and faithfulness. [19:13]
3. Mindfulness in Thanksgiving: To give thanks appropriately, we must be mindful and intentional about remembering God's benefits. This mindfulness involves actively recalling God's forgiveness, healing, and redemption, which fuels our praise and deepens our relationship with Him. [04:50]
4. Gratitude as a Sacrifice: As priests unto God, our sacrifice is the praise and thanksgiving we offer with our lips. This act of worship is not transactional but a genuine expression of gratitude for who God is and what He has done. It honors God and strengthens our faith. [31:31]
5. Living as Kings and Priests: We are called to live as kings and priests, offering sacrifices of praise and proclaiming God's praises. This identity reminds us of our role in God's kingdom and the importance of living a life that reflects His glory and grace. [29:38]
** [29:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - God's Love and Thanksgiving
[00:33] - The Power of the Lord
[01:09] - Faith in God's Power
[02:13] - Thanksgiving as a Lifestyle
[03:28] - The Importance of Remembering
[05:08] - The Israelites' Forgetfulness
[07:19] - Propensity to Forget
[08:27] - Psalm 103: Bless the Lord
[10:04] - Spirit, Soul, and Body
[11:13] - God's Benefits
[13:52] - Redemption from Destruction
[16:21] - God's Mercy and Surprises
[18:39] - Remembering Overcomes Fear
[20:32] - Remembering Inspires Faith
[22:30] - Remembering Produces Praise
[24:09] - Gratitude Journal
[28:53] - Kings and Priests unto God
[31:31] - Sacrifice of Praise
[32:50] - Make Thankfulness Your Sacrifice

Sermon Clips

Thanksgiving is not a day in the calendar the Thanksgiving holiday is big in America it's like that's the country in the world where Thanksgiving is the biggest that you have a national holiday in November in Canada the national holiday for Thanksgiving is in October so we have our Thanksgiving in October you have it in November so but Thanksgiving is not a day in the year Thanksgiving indeed is not even a day in the month Thanksgiving is a lifestyle Hallelujah ultimately that's what Thanksgiving is it's a lifestyle. [00:02:26]

For you to give thanks appropriately you must remember you must be mindful you got to be giving thanks for something right what do you thank God for I just thank God we actually have in our family devotions with our three children in their twenties when they're around whenever we have family devotions so we actually start at it with what you thank God for that is to help each and every one of us to remember. [00:03:18]

Thanksgiving requires you to remember everybody say I remember God knows we have a propensity to forget that is why he's adamant about us being intentional about remembering his goodness it is human nature to forget it is human nature to forget what has been done for you who was there for you anybody here ever had someone that you were there for them in their time of need when they needed a prayer partner you were there when they need that money you were there when they needed a job you came through did you ever experience that after a while when everything went from that well for them you never saw them again anybody ever seen that or maybe you were the one maybe you were the one oh yeah let's be honest here let's be real maybe you were the one it is human nature to forget. [00:07:23]

Psalm 103 is one of my favorite Psalms I have camped in this Psalm this year I believe God just wanted me to get something I believe God just wanted me to get a revelation of something something needed to happen in my life and in my heart because verse 1 says bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me do what bless His holy name bless the Lord O my soul and do what forget not all his benefits you know only just each one of these verses is camping ground each one of these verses is a place for you to camp and sit and meditate and say Salah right here forget not all his benefits. [00:08:20]

Bless the Lord O my soul my soul my mind my will my emotions because in the day-to-day when you get up and you go about your day and you have to deal with your family your spouse your children your parents your roommates your your landlord your tenant your whoever your boss as you're going about your day you need to tell your soul your mind your will your emotions because that's where the battle is you tell them forget not all his benefits I'm telling bless the Lord O My Soul yeah my spirit my recreated human being and Spirits right you all are well taught in this church because I trust my pastor here that you are a spirit man is tripartite your consists of three parts you are a spirit you have a soul and you live in a body. [00:09:33]

Remembering overcomes fear remembering helps us to overcome fear huh you may not have fled from a pharaoh a physical Flair Pharaoh you may not have fled from chariots but you may have had some things Chasing After You all kinds of Trials and all kinds of troubles coming after you that felt like a pharaoh breathing down your neck but you know what Deuteronomy 7 17-19 you this so the book of Deuteronomy is Moses's final exhortation to the nation of Israel they've crossed they've come out of Egypt they're on the verge of entering the promised land 40 Years of roaming in the wilderness all the doubters have died all the naysayers who said God couldn't take them in They're All Dead they're about to enter and Moses about to die and this is his final message to them the whole book of Deuteronomy. [00:18:36]

Remembering inspires faith to give thanks appropriately I must remember and remembering inspires Faith Lamentations 3 21-24 in the New Living Translation yet I still dare to hope when what I remember this the preceding verses like life isn't worth living there's so much trouble so much trial but I still dare to hope when I do what remember this the faithful love of the Lord never ends never ceases his mercies never cease great is his faithfulness his mercies begin afresh each morning I say to myself bless the Lord O my soul I say to myself the Lord is my inheritance therefore I will hope in him can somebody give him praise and glory in the house I remember. [00:20:32]

Remembering produces praise it fuels praise Psalm 63 verses 3 to 7 in the Amplified Psalm 63 verse 3. because your loving kindness is better than life my lips shall do what praise you so will I bless you as long as I live will I lift up my hands in your name my whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips when I do what remember you upon my bed and meditate on you in the night's watches for I for you have been my help and in The Shadow of Your Wings will I rejoice when I remember you upon my bed you know the devil likes to visit us at night I don't know about you but it happens to me does it happen to anybody else when you finally lie down in bed then the thoughts come right the thoughts of all what is not working of all the prayers that have not been answered of all the needs in my life right of all the pains in my body when you're lying in bed aching feeling bad feeling like nothing's going on for you that's why what does the psalmist say when I do what remember you upon my bed and meditate on you this is the key to thanksfulness to Thanksgiving he says when I remember then I will rejoice. [00:21:28]

You remember you will do like I do and for several years now I have kept a gratitude Journal I said I've kept a gratitude Journal your gratitude Journal may be a physical book or like mine it may be electronic so that no matter where I am I can whip out my phone and I can put something down sometime what I put I heard from Sister Tola and she said she got a new job I'm praising God for sister Tola another time he could be brother Tony it's not always about me sometimes I could be rejoicing about something I saw in the news uh something I read in the news anybody remember a couple of years ago those boys in Thailand that were trapped in that cave and they all came out alive and well that's something that went into my gratitude Journal is anybody following me my gratitude Journal is not just about all about me me myself our three children us five are no more it's not just about us. [00:24:09]

I give thanks to God because he is and because I am he is God I am his child I exist because he ex he is he gave me the life he gave me the breath if he never answered another prayer if he never did another miracle thank you Jesus I'm just graceful grateful because he is gratitude is what distinguishes the Christian Thanksgiving is what makes you a lovely person to be around not full of grumbling and not full of complaints praise the Lord praise the Lord hallelujah. [00:28:53]

And the Bible tells us in Revelation 1 verses 5 to 6 what does that even mean a king and priest when the Bible says Jesus is king of kings and Lord of lords do you think he's the king of King Charles of England or is he the king of the only fair or the king of the Olu of worry or which Kings is he talking about yes they are natural rulers who are these kings that he is king of who is who are they Revelations 1 5-6 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness the first born from the dead and the rulers of the kings of the earth to him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and has made us what Kings and Priests to his God and Father to him be what glory and Dominion forever and ever where are the kings of God Hallelujah where are the priests of God hallelujah those of us who have been washed in his blood my sins are gone they are under the blood no matter what I did five minutes ago no matter what I did on my way to church I don't live with a guilty Consciousness or sin Consciousness I stand washed clean under the bud and I'm a king and a priest unto God. [00:29:38]

Therefore by him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name giving thanks to his name that is your sacrifice that is the sacrifice priest of God you are a holy nation a royal priesthood his own special people that you may proclaim the Praises of him who called you out of Darkness Into His Marvelous Light that's first Peter 2 5 to 9-10 so finally Psalm 50 tells us verse 14 in the New Living Translation Priests of God remember that you are a king and you a priest to God make thankfulness your sacrifice to God Psalm 50 verse 14 in the New Living Translation make thankfulness your sacrifice to God and keep the vows you made to the most high then call on me when you are in trouble and I will rescue you and you will give me Glory but giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. [00:31:31]

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