August 20, 2023
Series Overview: Streaks (daily commitments) have become a culture phenom over the last couple of years. Whether it’s a social media app or a Pelaton goal - people are ‘streaking’ like crazy! LOL! In this series, we’re going to look to scripture for some things God calls us to have streaks in and talk through the powerful benefits that our lives experience as a result of it.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 BLB
Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
‘EVERYTHING’ (from the verse above) (greek ‘pas’) each, every, any, all, the whole, all things, everything, everyone, daily.
4 reasons gratitude must be a daily streak in your life…
1 – God
so…
1 Thessalonians 5:18 is not suggestive. It is a command.
2 – Gratitude is not a
tendency in your life.
ROMANS 7:18 NIV
For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
ROMANS 8:13 AMP
For if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever.
FLESH =
SPIRIT =
Physical benefits to streaks of gratitude in your life…
Gratitude changes your brain’s neural structures making you feel happier and more content.
Gratitude reduces toxic aggression, frustration, and regret after receiving negative feedback.
Gratitude provides better sleep, motivation to exercise, reduced symptoms of physical pain, lower levels of inflammation, and lower blood pressure.
Gratitude journaling results in increases in optimism and 25% increased sleep quality.
Writing a letter of gratitude has been shown to reduce feelings of hopelessness in 88% of suicidal inpatients.
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all of virtues. —Roman philosopher Cicero
Gratitude is the
to God’s presence.
PSALM 100:4 NASB
We enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And we enter His courtyards with praise.
Gratitude is your greatest
in hardship.
PSALM 13:1-6 NIV
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.
JAMES 1:2-4 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
LUKE 17:15-19 NIV
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Jesus absolutely cares about your thank you.
Closing thought…
Be encouraged to use today’s message as an invitation to pursue a life that lives out the message you just received. We also invite you to (if you already haven’t) invite Christ and His forgiveness over your life, giving you eternity with Him. We sincerely pray today’s talk has blessed you and becomes your experienced reality!
Need prayer? Want to make Jesus your Lord? Want to share a praise? Is there a need we can meet? Click here and allow someone from our leaedership to reach out to you and stand with you in prayer or strive to help with whatever your need may be. Or allow us to celebrate what God has done in your life recently. We’d love to hear from you!
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