A Heartfelt Thanks
November 19, 2023
Key Scriptures
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
- Romans 1:21
- Colossians 3:12-17
- Ephesians 5:15-20
- Philippians 4:6
- Luke 22:17-20
Key Points
- Those who fail to honor God or give thanks will end up with darkened hearts.
- A heart of ingratitude stems from “never enough” and “I deserve more.”
- A heart of gratitude stems from “I don’t deserve anything” and “I expect nothing.”
- If one expects nothing, anything more will produce a heartfelt thanks.
- God doesn’t need a thank you, but He knows we need to.
- A grateful heart carries over to others with kindness and patience.
- Grateful hearts are not natural; these hearts have been sanctified by the Spirit. We are asked to put these hearts on by being filled with the Spirit.
- The biblical command to be thankful includes being thankful in all circumstances.
- When we thank Him amid pain or misfortune, we are reminded that He is present, and we can trust He is good.
Discussion Questions
- Do you consider yourself a thankful person or a person who tends to complain?
- Why do you think the Lord wants us to have a grateful heart?
- What can you thank Him for amid pain or misfortune?
- How can you develop a grateful heart?
David’s Medley of Thanks
“I will GIVE THANKS to the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High… I will GIVE THANKS to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders… Therefore, I will GIVE THANKS to Thee among the nations, O LORD, And I will sing praises to Thy name… The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore, my heart exults, and with my song I shall THANK Him… Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, And GIVE THANKS to His holy name… I will GIVE THANKS to Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Thy name forever… With my mouth I will GIVE THANKS abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him… I will GIVE THANKS to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.”
(Psalms 7:17, 9:1, 18:49, 28:7, 30:4, 86:12, 109:30, 139:4)
Paul’s Medley of Thanks
Romans 1:8 – First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.
1 Corinthians 1:4 – I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,
Ephesians 1:16 – do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
Philippians 1:3 – I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
Colossians 1:3 – We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,Philemon 1:4 – I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers