An Attidue of Gratitued
Thanking Through It • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Depression and Gratitude
Depression and Gratitude
Did you know that according to the CDC at 29% of all Americans have been clinically diagnosed with depression. Now, think about that for a moment, 29% have been clinically diagnosed, so their depression was bad enough that they went to a physician and recieved treatment for their depression. Well, I don’t know about you, but I know some people who are likely depressed or have been depressed who never went to the doctor for it. So if 29% have been diagnosed then how big is the number of people who have struggled with depression in reality? Some medical research suggests that as much as 80% of adults will battle depression for a least a part of their lives. So let me start this sermon by saying if you are battling depression today you are far from alone, in fact you probably are not the only person in this sanctuary dealing with it.
But catch this, during COVID there were multiple mental health studies done; one of those was a study that measured the connection between thankfulness and depression and according to this Italian study more than 70% of those monitored showed improved mental health and less signs of depression simply be intentionally thinking about and naming things that they were thankful for.
A Chinese study took this one step further, and conducted a study on thankfulness and physical health. This study asked people struggling with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Arthritis, Diabetes, and Heart disease to intentionally engage in 2 times of intentional thankfulness a day and in over 80% of patients their physical sympnk about toms were less severe.
Friends, there is great power in a grateful heart.
Thanking Through “IT”
Thanking Through “IT”
This sermon series title is completely intentional- thanking through “IT” no matter what it is. That is what the Bible says that we are to thank through it- no matter what the it is. Your it may be something awesome- a new baby, a new house, maybe some fun holiday stuff coming up; or maybe your it isn;t so good- a sickness, a layoff, family drama. The constant in the it is our ability and our command to be thankful!
Here’s something to think about- in v16 we are told to rejoice always. The Greek word for rejoice- chairo- can also be translated to “be well” or “be completely whole” God’s will for us is that we would be completely whole, that every bit of our being is in the will of God.
Think of this translation or way over understanding- BE WHOLE- ALWAYS!
How many times in our lives are our attitudes the most broken part of us, and the rest of us follows suit? You are in a bad mood and then something else little happens- you spill your coffee, stub your toe; something simple and it just sends you over the edge.
A broken attitude can spoil the rest of it- so BE WHOLE church.
A 2 part prescription
A 2 part prescription
So the Bible offers us a 2 part prescription for how we can being to keep ourselves well- or rejoice in all things
First- pray without ceasing. Now there has been a lot of different interpretation of what this really means throughout the years. Some super serious Monks have literally taken a vow that every word from their mouths will be prayer; to a more lose interpretation that says that says it is not physically possible to pray without ceasing- so ignore it; Paul was using hyperbole or exaggerating.
Can I tell you how I interpret this passage? Prayer is a conversation that connects us to God. So, when I read pray without ceasing I think about how a part of me should always be aware and connected of the presence of God in my life. My prayer does not start with “Dear God” and end with “Amen” my prayer is connected throughout how I interact with my God throughout my day.
When we say Dear God in prayer- we are not getting God’s attention, most of the time we are focusing our attention and the people around us. God is always present in the lives of his people.
Second, says Paul, is to be thankful in all things.
AM THANKFUL...
I am Thankful that we only elect presidents
once every four years.
I am Thankful that teenagers will grow up and
that one day they will have children
that will become teenagers of their own.
I am Thankful that I am not a turkey this week.
I am Thankful that the space available for messages
on T-shirts and bumpers is limited.
I am Thankful that hugs and kisses
do not add weight or cause cancer.
I am Thankful that TVs, Radios, & CD players
can be turned off.
I am Thankful that God’s love never fails.
I am Thankful that we can come together this evening
in unity.
Back in 1988, a Polish railway worker named Jan Grzebski was hit by a train. He lived ... but only barely. For the next 19 years (until the year 2007), Grzebski was in a coma.
He awoke in 2007 to a whole new world. Nineteen years earlier, Poland was a communist state. Grzebski noted that back then meat was rationed and there were huge lines at nearly every gas station. And, "there was only tea and vinegar in the shops."
But 19 years later, he awoke to a free nation where he said there were "people on the streets with cell phones and there are so many goods in the shops it makes my head spin."
But something puzzled him. "What amazes me is all these people who walk around with their mobile phones and yet they never stop moaning."
These people had freedom, and food and wealth greater than Poland had had for decades ... and yet Grzebski woke from his coma to find that ALL they seemed to want to do was grumble!