Thankfulness

Verse 4 commands us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, give thanks to Him and praise His name. We need to be ready to praise before we walk in. Too often, we come to church so that we can find something to be thankful for. Scripture is clear, we need to arrive prepared with thanksgiving. Unfortunately, too often, we come to His House as a last resort and not as our first choice. We need to learn to be thankful.

1. We need a thankful attitude

The problem with many Christians is that we project an entitled attitude:

We demand that God provide

We feel that just because we attended a few church services that God owes us

Just because we have given a tithe a few times that God must bless us

We overlook what He has already done

Instead of expecting to receive a blessing, learn to thank God for what He has already done

Phil 2:5 “5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:”

Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought

Regard yourself highly but not more highly than you ought

Look around—God has already blessed you plenty

Start thanking Him for what He has given you

Life, a home, a family, AC, Heater, a vehicle, your health, etc...

2. Put your mind on things above

To learn to be thankful we need our mind on the right place

Col 3:1-2 “1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

This speaks of our focus

Mt 6:31-32 “31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

Don’t chase what those without Jesus chase

Don’t chase fame

Don’t chase money

Mt 6:33 “33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Don’t look down, you are not going that way

Ps 121:1-2 “1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Look up and fill your mind with the things that came from above

James 1:17 “17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

3. Believe the promises of God

Unbelief keeps you from the Promise

Heb 3:15-19 “15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” 16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.”

We disobey when we don’t believe

How many have heard a parent say, “If you don’t behave you are grounded” the child doesn’t listen because the child does not believe

As a parent, too often we do not follow through with our standards

God is just, He will do what He said, and He says what He does

We need to trust God

Mk 11:22 “22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.”

Mk 9:21-24 “21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!””

Believe His promises

He is going to bless you

You have been blessed

You need to start thanking Him for every blessing you have and every blessing that is to come

4. Think about what is praiseworthy

The reason why many don’t know how to be thankful is because they think about the wrong things

Whatever you focus on will be magnified

If you think of your overdue bill instead of all the ones you have paid, you will become worried

If you learn to think of all the goodness of God, you will never doubt His power

Phil 4:8 “8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

You have to make yourself think about what is true

God’s promises are yes and amen

Quit thinking negatively

Change your thoughts

Being thankful requires that you have something to be thankful for—think about all God has done

God provided before, He will do it again

God healed before, He will do it again

God gave peace before, He will do it again

God protected before, He will do it again

God died for your sins so that you don’t have to

Start thanking God for what He is about to do

He is about to heal you

He’s about to bless you

He’s about to provide for you

He’s about to restore your marriage and family

He’s about to give you peace

He’s about to provide

He is moving heaven and earth to bless you

As you think in your heart, so are you

Think—I am blessed

I am above

I am a lender

I am the head

Thank you Lord for your goodness

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