There are about 400 passages mentioning gratitude and thanksgiving. Here are some of the benefits of gratitude:
Gratitude defeats toxic emotions
Gratitude reduces pain
Gratitude improves physical and mental health
Gratitude improves sleep quality
Gratitude aids in stress regulation
Gratitude reduces anxiety and depression
Gratitude improves relationships and opens the door to people and opportunities
Gratitude IS THE EVIDENCE OF MATURITY
Gratitude pleases God and brings His blessing
In 2022 we are called to Adopt an attitude of gratitude
Col 2:6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
Col 2:7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. NKJV
Col 3:17 Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father. GNB
Gratitude is the hallmark of a person set free. If we are not Grateful we are not free.
1. Gratitude is the foundation for a relationship with God and only a relationship with God will set you free.
Know Jesus and you will know the truth // know the Truth and you will be set free
Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.” —Zig Ziglar
Relationships are built quickly and firmly by giving and receiving gratitude.
If we are thankful for someone we will want to spend time with someone.
- If we are thankful for someone we will be excited to give and receive.
- If we are thankful for someone we will value them.
- For Example: If we are thankful for the Holy Spirit we will develop a real friendship with Him we will invite His leading, insight and advice to our everyday life.
- if we are not thankful for the person of the Holy Spirit we will not desire to be led by Him we will not want to know God’s opinion on a situation and we will only relate to Him in case of emergency
- If you are not thankful for a gift you will not value the gift or use it.
Paul invites us to KNOW GOD
Eph 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Eph 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Eph 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, —NIV
Freedom
- When you settle your
Only an intimate relationship with the living God “KNOW HIM BETTER” will FREE YOU to deal with yesterday.
Knowing God sets you free
- Knowing God sets us free
- I can have Freedom FROM my
Jesus Invites us to KNOW HIM
Mat 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Mat 11:30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” —NKJV
Jesus invites us to relationship “come to Me” “take the gift of my yoke” “learn from me” “receive rest”
**Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship and gratitude keeps us “yoked” in the relationship.
If we are thankful for the yoke Jesus offers we will take His yoke upon us.
When we receive the gift of His Yoke with gratitude
- we will be set free from the labor: the burden we place on ourselves
- and receive rest in exchange for our being heavy laden: the burden placed on us by others
2. Gratitude takes the
out of something sent to
you.
Gratitude helps us to take hold of the shield of faith and faith quenches all the fiery arrows of the enemy.
Eph 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. —NKJV
fiery arrows were shot from many directions with the intent to confuse and panic the opponent. The soldier under fire would be tempted to abandon their shield and then they would be exposed to the spears of the advancing army. Sometimes soldiers would soak their shield making the shield flame resistant.
Thankfulness reminds you not to abandon your shield of faith.
- Thankfulness gives us access to the soaking presence of Jesus
- Gratitude uses the assignment sent to harm us and turns it into spiritual muscle.
Gratitude focuses on the presence of
Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psa 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. —NKJV
3. Gratitude sets you free from a
mindset, from
and from financial
.
Financial freedom is not found in
it is found in
.
Gratitude to God overflows in a desire to be good stewards.
Good stewardship is a sign of freedom.
When we are thankful for what God has given us we will show gratitude by giving Him total access to all of our possessions.
4. When Jesus sets you free you can give
in
situation. Even the things you think the enemy sent your way.
The song of thanksgiving breaks chains and can open prison doors!
Paul and Silas in Prison
Act 16:16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
Act 16:17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
Act 16:18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
Act 16:19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
Act 16:20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;
Act 16:21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”
Act 16:22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.
Act 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
Act 16:24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer ConvertedAct 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Act 16:26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
Act 16:27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.
Act 16:28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
Act 16:29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
Act 16:30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Act 16:31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Act 16:32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
Act 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
*Gratitude is the song of
and it does not require physical freedom before it is sung. *
Gratitude sets you free (Jonah)
Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”
Jonah 2:10 So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. —Jonah 2, NKJV