We are week 2 in our series, Gratitude.
Week 1 Recap
- Gratitude turns what little you have into abundance.
- Gratitude is so much more than saying thank you.
- Gratitude changes your perspective of your world.
The big question for week 2 is, "Can we have gratitude when lift just isn't that good?"Most would agree that being thankful is a vital part of our life, especially in the church. Although its really important, most of us struggle or find it difficult to be grateful all the time. Even the thought of giving thanks all the time seems like an impossible task.
We live in a culture that compartmentalizes gratefulness to a certain time/day of the year and or certain moments. Social media tells us we should be grateful after so many likes and views on our recent post.
The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16;
Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God's perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus
And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks!
Imagine being told ; when you pray, if you pray to anyone except the king, you will be thrown to the lions. We read Daniel and have this child like memory from our Sunday school class. Our familiarity with the story has minimized the impact. Instead of running to his friends, family or Facebook, David went to the house and 3 times a day gave thanks to God.
Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
When you guard your heart with gratitude, the enemies attacks won't matter.
Daniel was a human just like all of us. There was great opportunity for all the emotions to strangle his faith.
Daniels heart was guarded by gratitude.
1. Fear couldn’t grip him
2. Disappointment couldn’t hold him
3. Feelings of doubt and abandonment couldn’t pick him a part
At the end of Daniel 6:10 it says “just as he had done before.” Gratitude was a muscle that Daniel worked out consistently. Daniel had a heart of gratitude, not just a moment of gratitude.
Giving thanks to God was a familiar posture of his heart. Throughout the ups and downs his thankfulness was the same. I find myself with the desire to be like Daniel.
Daniel’s life was shaped by gratitude.
