Thanksgiving: A Declaration of Trust in God's Promises

Devotional

Day 1: Thankfulness for God’s Promises, Not Just Present Blessings

Being thankful is not just about what we have received, but about trusting and praising God for what He has promised, even before we see it come to pass. When we look at the story in 2 Kings 7, the people of Samaria were in desperate straits, yet God gave a promise of deliverance and abundance through the prophet Elisha. Even when circumstances seem impossible and hope is hard to find, God’s promises remain true. Thanksgiving, then, becomes a declaration of trust in God’s faithfulness, believing that what He has spoken will surely come to pass, even if we cannot yet see it with our eyes. [54:51]

2 Kings 7:1 (ESV)
But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.”

Reflection: What is one promise from God’s Word that you have not yet seen fulfilled in your life? Can you take a moment today to thank Him in advance for it, trusting that He is faithful to bring it to pass?

Day 2: Trusting God When the Way Seems Impossible

When we face situations that seem insurmountable, it is easy to doubt God’s power or creativity, just as the king’s officer did when he questioned whether God could really provide in the midst of famine. But God does not need to work according to human logic or limitations—He can make a way where there seems to be no way. Our role is not to figure out how God will do it, but to trust Him and believe that He is able to do the impossible. Thanksgiving in these moments is an act of faith, declaring, “Lord, I trust You, even when I don’t see the answer yet.” [59:11]

2 Kings 7:2 (ESV)
Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to doubt God’s ability to provide or intervene? How can you choose to trust Him and give thanks today, even when you don’t see a solution?

Day 3: Acting in Faith—Rising Up from Despair

The four leprous men outside the city gate could have remained in their despair, but instead, they responded to a nudge from God and decided to act: “Why sit we here until we die?” Sometimes, God calls us to rise up from our discouragement and take a step of faith, even when we feel weak or unqualified. When we move forward in obedience, God often meets us in miraculous ways, clearing the path before we even arrive. Don’t wait for perfect conditions—trust God enough to get up and walk into the blessing He has prepared for you. [01:07:39]

2 Kings 7:3-5 (ESV)
Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.” So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there.

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you have been “sitting” in discouragement or fear? What is one step of faith you can take today to move forward, trusting that God has already gone ahead of you?

Day 4: God’s Blessings Overflow—Share Your Testimony

When God blesses you, it is not just for your own benefit, but so that others may see His goodness and be encouraged. The lepers found more than enough provision in the enemy’s camp, and they realized they could not keep the good news to themselves. In the same way, when God answers your prayers or brings you through a difficult season, your testimony can inspire faith in others. Don’t hide what God has done—share it, and let your life be a testimony of His power and grace. [01:18:15]

Psalm 40:9-10 (ESV)
I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

Reflection: Who is one person you can encourage today by sharing a testimony of how God has provided for you or answered your prayers? Will you reach out and share your story with them?

Day 5: Thanksgiving as a Declaration of Trust

True thanksgiving is not just a response to what we have received, but a bold declaration of trust in God’s character and promises. Even when you are in a season of waiting, or when you feel like an outcast, God is watching over you and preparing blessings in abundance. He calls you to rise up in praise, to walk by faith, and to thank Him for what is already on the way. As you do, you position yourself to receive all that He has prepared, and you become a living testimony of His faithfulness. [01:23:52]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to declare your trust in God today, even before you see the answer? How can you express your thanksgiving to Him as an act of faith?

Sermon Summary

As we gather in this season of Thanksgiving, it’s important to remember that gratitude is not just about what we have already received, but also about what God has promised. The story from 2 Kings 7 reminds us of a city in desperate famine, where hope seemed lost and the future looked bleak. Yet, in the midst of that darkness, God spoke a word of promise through the prophet Elisha: that by the next day, abundance would replace lack. While some doubted, unable to see past their present circumstances, God was already preparing a miracle.

This is a call to trust God not only for what is visible, but for what He has spoken over our lives. Thanksgiving, at its core, is a declaration of trust. It’s easy to thank God for the turkey on the table or the bills that have been paid, but true faith thanks God for the blessings that are still on the way. Even when our bank accounts are low, our health is failing, or our relationships are strained, God’s promises remain. He does not need “windows in heaven” to bless us—He simply needs our trust.

The four leprous men outside the city gate could have chosen to remain in despair, but instead, they responded to a nudge from God: “Why sit we here until we die?” Their willingness to move forward, even in weakness and uncertainty, became the very means by which God brought deliverance—not just for them, but for the whole city. Sometimes, God asks us to take steps that seem impossible, but as we move in faith, we discover that He has already cleared the way.

God’s blessings are not just for us to hoard, but to share. When He brings us through, our testimony becomes a source of hope for others. We are called to rise up in thanksgiving, praise, and faith—not just for what we have, but for what God has promised. Even if you feel like an outcast or are in a season of waiting, God is watching over you, preparing abundance beyond what you can imagine. Don’t let doubt or discouragement keep you stuck. Stand on His promises, walk into your blessing, and let your gratitude be a declaration of trust in the God who always keeps His word.

Key Takeaways

1. Thanksgiving is a declaration of trust True thanksgiving is not limited to what we have already received, but is rooted in trusting God for what He has promised. When we thank God in advance, we declare our faith in His character and His word, even when circumstances seem impossible. This kind of gratitude shifts our focus from lack to expectation, and from fear to faith. [54:51]
2. God’s provision often comes in unexpected ways The lepers were the least likely candidates for a miracle, yet God used them to bring deliverance. God does not need conventional means or perfect conditions to fulfill His promises. He can use the weak, the outcast, and the overlooked to accomplish His purposes, reminding us that His creativity and power are limitless. [58:46]
3. Move forward even when you can’t see the way The lepers’ decision to act, despite their circumstances, opened the door for God’s blessing. Sometimes, God calls us to take steps of faith before we see any evidence of change. As we obey, we often find that God has already prepared the way ahead of us. Faith is not about having all the answers, but about trusting the One who does. [67:39]
4. Blessings are meant to be shared When God blesses us, it’s not just for our own benefit. Our testimonies and victories are meant to encourage and uplift others. As we share what God has done, we become conduits of hope and faith for those around us, multiplying the impact of God’s goodness. [78:15]
5. Don’t let doubt rob you of your blessing The officer who doubted Elisha’s word never experienced the miracle. Unbelief can keep us from receiving what God has prepared. Choose to believe for the impossible, to praise God in advance, and to act on His promises—even when it seems unlikely. Faith positions us to inherit what God has already set aside for us. [96:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[48:45] - Opening Prayer and Thanksgiving
[49:28] - Thanksgiving Scheduling and Announcements
[49:41] - Introduction to 2 Kings 7
[50:32] - Preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner
[51:35] - The Promise in Famine
[53:11] - When It Feels Like There’s Nothing to Be Thankful For
[54:31] - God Turns Things Around
[54:51] - Thanksgiving as a Declaration of Trust
[55:57] - The Desperation in Samaria
[57:54] - The Danger of Unbelief
[59:49] - Thanking God for Promises, Not Just Provision
[65:09] - The Leprous Men’s Decision
[70:32] - God Delivers on His Promises
[74:19] - God Clears the Path Before Us
[77:53] - Blessings Are Meant to Be Shared
[82:22] - Trusting God in Every Season
[84:56] - Walking Into Your Blessing
[92:45] - Thanksgiving for What’s Promised
[96:17] - Faith vs. Doubt
[99:43] - Living Out Loud in Praise
[102:02] - Offering and Announcements
[106:26] - Fellowship and Closing Instructions

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Thankful for What God Has Promised**

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### Bible Reading

**2 Kings 7:1-11 (ESV)**
1 But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.”
2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
3 Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die?
4 If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.”
5 So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there.
6 For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.”
7 So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives.
8 And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them.
9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”
10 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were.”
11 Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king’s household.

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### Observation Questions

What was the situation in Samaria at the beginning of 2 Kings 7, and what promise did Elisha deliver from God? ([50:55])
How did the king’s officer respond to Elisha’s prophecy, and what was Elisha’s reply to him? ([57:54])
What decision did the four leprous men make, and what was the result when they acted on it? ([01:05:35])
After discovering the empty camp, what did the lepers do with the blessings they found? ([01:17:53])

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### Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the officer doubted God’s promise, even though he had seen God work before? What does this reveal about the nature of unbelief? ([58:46])
The lepers were outcasts and considered weak, yet God used them to bring deliverance. What does this suggest about how God chooses to work in impossible situations? ([01:06:36])
The sermon said, “Thanksgiving is a declaration of trust.” In what ways does thanking God for what He has promised (not just what He has already done) demonstrate faith? ([54:51])
Why was it important for the lepers to share the good news and blessings with the city, rather than keep it to themselves? ([01:18:15])

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### Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to thank God not just for what we have, but for what He has promised. Is there something in your life right now that you are waiting on God for? How can you practice gratitude for that promise, even before you see it? ([54:51])
The lepers could have stayed stuck in despair, but they chose to move forward. Is there an area in your life where you feel “stuck” or hopeless? What is one step of faith you could take this week, even if you don’t see the whole path ahead? ([01:07:39])
The officer’s doubt kept him from experiencing the miracle. Are there promises of God that you struggle to believe? What doubts or fears are holding you back from trusting God fully? ([01:36:17])
The lepers shared their blessings with others. When God answers your prayers or blesses you, how can you use your testimony to encourage someone else who is struggling? ([01:18:15])
The sermon said, “God does not need windows in heaven to bless us—He simply needs our trust.” What does trusting God look like for you in practical, everyday situations (finances, health, relationships)? ([01:03:38])
The pastor mentioned that sometimes God asks us to take steps that seem impossible. Can you recall a time when you obeyed God in a difficult situation? What was the outcome, and how did it affect your faith? ([01:08:11])
The message encouraged us to “rise up in thanksgiving, praise, and faith.” What is one specific way you can express gratitude and trust in God this week, especially if you are in a season of waiting or difficulty? ([01:32:45])

Sermon Clips

He decided not to sit there and die. See, this kind of shows us the thought that we see in 2 Kings chapter 7. He thought things were so bad. But on the morrow, God turned everything around. And suddenly he remembered what God had promised. And he had something to be thankful for. Rather, we ought to be thankful for what God has promised to us. [00:54:31] (25 seconds) #BelieveBeyondSight

He doubted not only God's power, but he doubted God's creativity, thinking that God could only come one way. Since they were being besieged, there was no way to get any food in, and there's no way to prepare any food. But he forgot. God doesn't need the way man does things. God can do things differently. He even doubted the messenger of God, although Elisha had a pretty solid track record as far as delivering God's word. My point in saying this is that unbelief looks like this. Unbelief began to question God's promises. [00:58:37] (36 seconds) #PraiseThroughTheStorm

Unbelief began to say, this is too fast. This is too new. This is impossible. Things can't happen like this. It even says if God does do something, it still won't work out. Even if God does something, it still is not going to work out. But this Thanksgiving, I want to share something with you. Thanksgiving says something else. Thanksgiving says, Lord, I trust in you. I bless your name. [00:59:14] (29 seconds) #GodNeedsYourTrust

God can make a way where there doesn't seem to be a way. God can work miracles beyond our even understanding. This man had no thoughts of God's power and no thought of God's creativity, but God was speaking love. In the midst of all they were going through, God sent him a word. Elijah began to receive a word right in the middle of all that tragedy. It's going to be all right. It's going to be all right. [01:04:11] (23 seconds) #ThankfulForProvidence

You see, you ought to learn to give God praise and glory because he'll bless. God, thank you for what you promised. God, because you see, when he promised the Messiah, he sent us Jesus. When he promised us, deliver us, Jesus came and defeated death, hell, and the grave. When he promised salvation, Jesus offered himself as a living sacrifice. God delivers on his promises. So when we talk about Thanksgiving, we ought to trust in God. Not only what he's already done for you, but what he said he's going to do. Thank you, Lord. [01:10:27] (35 seconds) #WalkByFaithNotSight

On this Thanksgiving observance, we can say thank you, Lord. You're here in my prayer, God. I know I'm not where I'm going to be. I know I'm still maybe in the valley, but you've already promised me the mountaintop. I'm going to thank you for my mountaintop experience. God's providence will make a way. Can we have somebody say amen there? God's providence will make a way. [01:12:39] (26 seconds)

And so when these four men came into the camp, they found the camp empty. What is the teaching? Before they arrived, God cleared the path for them. Before they arrived, God cleared the path. You see, there are those this morning, I'm not trying to call you out this morning, but you're worried about stuff. You're worried and you've got anxiety about some things in your life. Why worry? God's already taken care of it for you. Before these men even got to the camp, it was already cleared out. It was already empty. [01:14:28] (33 seconds)

Now the thing is, they didn't have to fight in that one Syrian. They didn't have to begin to fight for anybody. All they had to do, listen to me now, is walk into their blessing. That's all they had to do. Walk into their blessing. God's not calling you to take on an army. God's not calling you to take on the whole city of Irving. All God wants you to do is walk into your blessing. Can somebody say amen this morning? His providence is good. We don't have to fight for it. We're not trying to have to steal for it. All we have to do is allow God to bless us. [01:15:45] (35 seconds)

And then as they began to enjoy themselves, they realized something. As they went from tent to tent, their pockets could only hold so much gold. Their pockets could only hold so much silver. They could only eat so much. They could only drink so much. They began to realize this day is the day of good tidings. They couldn't keep it to themselves. They had to go tell somebody. Now here's an important lesson from this that I want to share with you. When God blesses you, he's not just blessing you. When God is blessing you, he's not just blessing you. [01:17:37] (38 seconds)

God was letting them know, I want you to get blessed, but then he was blessing the city, the same city that put them out, the same city that they were not believing that God can do it. You see, God wants them to know his testimony to feed others. We've got to understand, God can do the impossible. Can somebody say God can do the impossible? Come on, one more time, God can do the impossible. He doesn't need windows of heaven. This man said, if God is open windows of heaven, how can this thing be? God don't need no windows from heaven. [01:19:19] (33 seconds)

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