
BIG IDEA: TRUE THANKFULNESS ALWAYS CENTERS ON GOD.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. —James 1:16-17
Reasons to be thankful:
1. Thankfulness put us in God’s will.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. —1 Thessalonians 5:18
2. Thankfulness reminds us of God’s goodness and love.
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! —1 Chronicles 16:34
3. Thankfulness brings God’s peace.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. —Philippians 4:6
4. Thankfulness Glorifies God.
For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. —2 Corinthians 4:15
BIG THINGS TO THANK GOD FOR
1. His grace.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. —Ephesians 2:1-9
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! —2 Corinthians 9:15
2. His truth.
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. —John 17:14-19
3. His presence.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. —John 14:16-20
4. His provision.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:19