An Attitude of Thanksgiving 2023
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An Attitude of Thanksgiving 2023
Colossians 1:12–14 (KJV 1900) 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
For some people, Thanksgiving is just a holiday when they sit down and enjoy a Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings.
For believers, Thanksgiving should be more than just a holiday.
It should be a lifestyle of giving thanks to God every day for what He has done and continues to do in our lives.
I believe at times we forget that we do not have to be completely satisfied with everything in our lives to be thankful.
We are all a work in progress.
Even if we’re not where we want to be, we can thank God that because of the New Birth, we’re not where we were!
1. God has done so much for us. But sometimes when you listen to believers, it seems like they’re ungrateful.
1. God has done so much for us. But sometimes when you listen to believers, it seems like they’re ungrateful.
Some believers say,The Lord took care of that for me and now I’m asking for this.” There is no Praise or Thanksgiving in that. That’s an Ungrateful attitude.
a. We should say, “Thank You, God, for what You’re doing for me now. And thank You for the greater things that lie ahead.”
b. No matter where we may or may not be spiritually, emotionally, physically, or financially, it’s never OK to have an ungrateful attitude.
c. Maybe it looks like everything in your life is turned upside down or seems to be going wrong.
> Possibly you’re struggling or just stopped trying to find something to be thankful for.
How About You Are Born Again and filled with the Holy Ghost.
d. Developing and maintaining an Attitude of Thanksgiving requires you to exercise your will.
> In other words, every day you must decide and choose to have an Attitude of Thanksgiving.
Out Text in Colossians chapter 1 gives us many reasons to be thankful.
COLOSSIANS 1:12–14 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
2. Too many times, we don’t thank God for what we have. We’re too busy telling Him what we don’t have. We have so many good things that we should be thankful for.
2. Too many times, we don’t thank God for what we have. We’re too busy telling Him what we don’t have. We have so many good things that we should be thankful for.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6–8 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
a. Notice that verse 6 says whenever we ask God for something, we’re supposed to do it with thanksgiving. Why?
Mark 11:24 (KJV 1900) 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
1 John 5:14-15 (KJV 1900) 14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
b. If you truly believed you received when you prayed, there is nothing left but to give Thanks to the Lord that it is done.
> Then after we’ve asked with thanksgiving, we enter into His Rest and the peace of God will overtake us.
c. A powerful example of maintaining an attitude of thanksgiving in the worst conditions is found in Acts 16:23-26
Acts 16:23–26 (KJV 1900) 23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
d. Paul and Silas had been badly beaten and thrown in a dark, cold, and wet jail for preaching the Gospel.
> In the darkness of that midnight hour, they began to pray and sing praises to God so loud that all the prisoners heard them.
> They knew that the Lord was more than able to deliver them out of their circumstance.
3. It would have been easy for Paul and Silas to cry, moan and complain all night. We’ve all done that when things have not gone our way.
3. It would have been easy for Paul and Silas to cry, moan and complain all night. We’ve all done that when things have not gone our way.
Moaning and complaining only enforces your defeat and captivity.
a. Faith shouts the Victory in the midnight hour! Chained to a wall with their backs still bleeding, Paul and Silas chose to shout and sing praises to God.
> They chose to maintain an attitude of thanksgiving.
b. It the middle of their Praise and Worship Service, the earth shook the foundations of that prison and opened all the doors. Everybody’s chains were loosed, and God delivered Paul and Silas from their captivity (v. 26).
2 Corinthians 11:24–28 (KJV 1900) 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
> Paul faced many trials—stoning, shipwrecks, imprisonment, rejection, and constant persecution—but through it all, he remained thankful. We Should Follow His Example
c. Paul wrote a lot about being thankful.
1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV 1900) 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV 1900)14Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Colossians 1:12–14 (KJV 1900) 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV 1900) 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Colossians 1:12 (KJV 1900) 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
d. It’s easy to thank the Lord when everything is going great.
> Here’s the question: Can we praise and thank Him when things aren’t easy?
> It’s when we face trials and tribulations that we find out what we’re really made of.
e. Let’s decide to have an attitude of thanksgiving every day.
> Begin to thank your Father God for what you have and for the people He has placed in your life.
> Remember, no matter what you’re going through, if you stay in faith, you are coming out in Victory. So give Him thanks!
> As believers, we shouldn’t need to be reminded to thank God Who has blessed us beyond measure. Thanksgiving should naturally flow out of us.
> We should be so full of appreciation for everything He has done for us that we just can’t keep silent. And the best reason to thank our Heavenly Father is simply because we love Him.