Pausing to Praise: Embracing Gratitude in Life
Summary
Celebrating the first anniversary in our new building, we are reminded of the importance of pausing to praise God for His goodness in our lives. Throughout Scripture, God's people have built altars and held festivals to commemorate His miracles and blessings. Today, we take a moment to honor God for His unwavering presence and the countless ways He has worked in our lives, families, friendships, and church community. We reflect on the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19, where only one returned to thank Jesus after being healed. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder of our tendency to rush through life, constantly seeking the next thing, and often forgetting to pause and praise God for His blessings.
We are like the nine lepers, always on the move, missing the opportunity to express gratitude for what God has done. Praise is not just an act of worship; it is a transformative practice that makes our souls well. It shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have, fostering a spirit of gratitude that leads to joy and spiritual wholeness. Praise empowers us, reminding us of God's goodness and presence in our lives. It enables God's provision, opening our hearts to His blessings and allowing His grace to flow. Moreover, praise sacrifices self, helping us lay down our desires and align with God's will.
In a world driven by materialism and comparison, praise is a countercultural act that brings clarity, contentment, and purpose. It is a reminder that our worth is not found in possessions or achievements but in our relationship with God. As we partake in communion, we remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, who gave His life so that we might have life in abundance. Let us commit to pausing and praising God more often, acknowledging His presence and goodness in every aspect of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Praise: Praise is a transformative practice that shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have, fostering gratitude and joy. It makes our souls well, leading to spiritual wholeness and fulfillment. [10:06]
- Praise Empowers Us: When we praise, we remind ourselves of God's goodness and presence, empowering us to face life's challenges with confidence and hope. It moves us from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance. [14:18]
- Praise Enables God's Provision: Praise opens our hearts to God's blessings, allowing His grace to flow into our lives. It is an act of faith that invites God's intervention and provision in our circumstances. [23:55]
- Sacrificing Self Through Praise: Praise helps us lay down our desires and align with God's will, leading to contentment and purpose. It counters the destructive tendencies of self-centeredness, bringing clarity and life. [29:25]
- Gratitude in All Circumstances: Embracing gratitude, even in difficult situations, reveals God's potential in every circumstance. It transforms our perspective, enabling us to see God's hand at work and find joy in the journey. [20:50]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [02:05] - Introduction to "Pausing to Praise"
- [06:14] - The Story of the Ten Lepers
- [06:51] - The Tendency to Rush Through Life
- [10:06] - The Power of Praise
- [11:16] - Gratitude and Joy
- [12:06] - Scientific Insights on Gratitude
- [13:27] - God's Desire for Our Happiness
- [14:18] - Praise Empowers Us
- [16:19] - Awareness of God's Presence
- [17:27] - Ancient Jewish Prayers of Thanksgiving
- [18:26] - Gratitude in Everyday Life
- [19:33] - Gratitude in the Trenches
- [20:50] - Corrie ten Boom's Story
- [23:17] - Praise and God's Provision
- [26:55] - Praise in Challenging Circumstances
- [28:21] - Sacrificing Self Through Praise
- [30:06] - Joy in Simplicity
- [32:41] - Communion and Gratitude
- [36:34] - Invitation to Know Jesus
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Luke 17:11-19 (NIV)
#### Observation Questions
1. In the story of the ten lepers, what was the initial reaction of the lepers when they saw Jesus? How did they address Him? [02:05]
2. What was the response of the one leper who returned to Jesus after being healed, and how did Jesus react to his return? [06:14]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the one leper returning to give thanks, and how does it contrast with the actions of the other nine? [06:51]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of the ten lepers illustrate the importance of gratitude in our spiritual lives? What does it suggest about the relationship between faith and wellness? [10:06]
2. The sermon mentions that praise empowers us by shifting our focus. How might this empowerment manifest in a believer's daily life? [14:18]
3. In what ways does the act of praising God enable His provision, according to the sermon? How does this concept challenge or affirm your understanding of faith? [23:55]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent blessing in your life. Did you take time to pause and praise God for it, or were you more like the nine lepers, moving on to the next thing? How can you cultivate a habit of gratitude? [06:51]
2. The sermon suggests that praise can transform our perspective from scarcity to abundance. Identify an area in your life where you often feel lacking. How can you practice praise to shift your mindset? [14:18]
3. Consider a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you incorporate praise into your response to this challenge, and what impact do you think it might have? [20:50]
4. The sermon discusses the idea of sacrificing self through praise. What personal desires or ambitions might you need to lay down to align more closely with God's will? [29:25]
5. How can you intentionally practice gratitude in your daily routine, similar to the ancient Jewish prayers mentioned in the sermon? What specific moments in your day could become opportunities for praise? [18:26]
6. Think about a time when you felt distant from God. How might incorporating regular praise and gratitude have changed your experience or perspective during that time? [18:55]
7. The sermon highlights the joy and contentment found in gratitude. Identify one practical step you can take this week to express gratitude in a relationship or situation where you currently feel discontent. [30:06]
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of Praise
Praise shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have, fostering gratitude and joy. It is a transformative practice that leads to spiritual wholeness and fulfillment. When we engage in praise, we are reminded of God's goodness and presence in our lives, which empowers us to face life's challenges with confidence and hope. This act of worship moves us from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance, allowing us to experience the fullness of God's blessings. [10:06]
Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV): "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you tend to focus on what you lack? How can you intentionally shift your perspective to praise God for what you have today?
Day 2: Empowered by Praise
When we praise, we remind ourselves of God's goodness and presence, empowering us to face life's challenges with confidence and hope. Praise is not just an act of worship; it is a powerful tool that transforms our mindset from scarcity to abundance. By focusing on God's faithfulness, we are equipped to navigate difficult circumstances with a renewed sense of strength and assurance. [14:18]
Isaiah 40:29-31 (ESV): "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you incorporate praise into your daily routine to empower you in this situation?
Day 3: Praise as a Gateway to God's Provision
Praise opens our hearts to God's blessings, allowing His grace to flow into our lives. It is an act of faith that invites God's intervention and provision in our circumstances. By praising God, we acknowledge His sovereignty and trust in His ability to provide for our needs. This act of worship creates an atmosphere where God's grace can manifest, leading to divine provision and abundance. [23:55]
2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God for provision? How can you use praise as a way to invite His grace and intervention?
Day 4: Sacrificing Self Through Praise
Praise helps us lay down our desires and align with God's will, leading to contentment and purpose. It counters the destructive tendencies of self-centeredness, bringing clarity and life. By focusing on God's greatness, we are reminded of our place in His plan and are encouraged to surrender our own desires in favor of His perfect will. This act of worship cultivates a spirit of humility and submission, allowing us to experience true contentment and purpose. [29:25]
Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: What is one desire or ambition you need to surrender to God? How can praise help you align with His will in this area?
Day 5: Gratitude in All Circumstances
Embracing gratitude, even in difficult situations, reveals God's potential in every circumstance. It transforms our perspective, enabling us to see God's hand at work and find joy in the journey. By choosing to be grateful, we open ourselves to the possibility of seeing God's goodness and faithfulness, even in the midst of trials. This attitude of gratitude allows us to experience joy and peace, regardless of our circumstances. [20:50]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you practice gratitude in this situation and look for God's hand at work?
Quotes
1) "It's a powerful thought that faith makes us well. Our praise makes us well. There were nine lepers that were cleansed. There was only one that was made well. See, praise is so crucial in our life because it makes our soul well. When we live with gratitude, it makes our soul well. We end up finding fulfillment that we could never find by just giving. We end up getting the next thing and the next thing because it never makes us happy. We are wired for gratitude. See, praise makes us spiritually whole. This word makes you well, this word in Greek means to be made completely whole. There is something about praise that makes our soul well." [10:06] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "Praise empowers us. Man, when you get your praise on, you start to remind yourself about the goodness of God. You start to remind yourself about how good He is. You start to remind yourself that He is good all the time. All the time. He is good. I love that praise this morning. Like all, even, you know, us white people, we start to boogie. We start to do the two-step, a bit of shimmy. Because there's something about praise that you start to feel, all right, I can take on the world. I can do this. Because praise. Praise. Come on, it empowers you." [14:18] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Lack of praise is simply an awareness issue. I love the story a few years ago of Paul McCartney, who is, if you don't know Paul McCartney, he's a little bit more old school now, but co-founder of the Beatles and has incredible songs. But he performed a concert in the middle of New York's Central Station. And he did it as a bit of a campaign tour. But the amazing thing, was how many people just walked past his concert, not realising who was right in front of them. And so often in life, we can do the same. Walk through life, not realising the greatness that is with us. the greatness that is before us, the fact that the God who literally, with one word, spoke life, and the universe was formed." [16:19] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Praise not only does that, but it empowers us because it moves us from a mindset of what isn't to a mindset of what is. When you praise, you realize what is actually in our hands. When you praise, you realize what we have to give. Something called gratitude in the trenches is used to describe what gratitude does even in the middle of circumstances such as war. Research shows that the difference that gratitude makes, especially in prison of war camps, it boosts morale, builds relationship, makes the most of circumstances, build health." [19:33] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Praise enables God's provision. Praise opens our heart to God, and then he opens his hand to us. When we put God in his rightful place, he is able to manifest himself as God because he moves based on our faith. We can't have faith without praise. We can't have faith without praise. We can't have faith without praise. You notice as soon as you start to praise, your faith starts to lift. Because you remind yourself what God can do. The two go hand in hand." [23:55] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Praise sacrifices self. Now it's not something that we like to often talk about, but over and over the Bible talks about to be a follower of Jesus, it is sacrificing self. It is laying down of our desires, of our needs, and it's choosing instead to follow him, to pursue him wholeheartedly with wholehearted devotion. And it brings us to the point where we say, that brilliant way that we can crucify self, which is what the Bible says for us to do, to kill flesh in us, is to praise. Because when we praise, we're elevating him and de-elevating ourselves." [28:21] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "Self leads to comparison. Praise leads to contentment. Self leads to fleeting pleasure. Praise leads to finding purpose. Self leads to entitlement and demand. Praise leads to gratitude. Gratitude and grace flowing. Self leads to confusion. Praise leads to clarity. Self ultimately leads to death. And praise leads to life. Jesus says in Matthew 10 verse 39, whoever finds the life will lose it. Whoever loses the life for my sake will find it. One of our goals as Christians is to keep sacrificing self, to keep laying it down. And we do that through praise." [29:25] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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