Good morning, beloved friends, an attitude of gratitude is a way of life. In Dr. David Jeremiah’s book, The Holy Spirit Yon May Not Know, he shares the best evidence of the Holy Spirit is gratitude or thankfulness.
Wow, on any given day, I try to be thankful but sometimes I can be grumpy. So, Chapter 10, really convicted me.
Teaching
The word Thanksgiving is in the Bible thirty times and one of the verses is in Psalm 100 as you see in the scripture meme. Another is 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we see the word thanks, thanks are used 100 times.
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Beloved, Dr. David Jeremiah states, “Gratitude is the best evidence that God is in us–that He’s working in our lives.” Why do I say that? Because there are so many reasons to be truly ungrateful in the world today. So many reasons to complain. But if the Spirit of God is in us. He will give us a heart that notices the blessings even when we are under the burdens.”
In this Chapter, he writes one of the results of being filled with the Holy Spirit is thankfulness and gratitude. Read with me this passage in Ephesians 5: 18-20
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
My personal testimony is one of gratitude similar to the one in Psalm 103: 2-5
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
We need to thank God that he is sovereign in midst of all our pain, diseases, and the evil that surrounds us. We are to praise God. He forgives us our sins and heals our diseases.
Next, according to Dr. David Jeremiah, the Spirit-Filled Christian is committed to the word of God and gratitude is the result. Personally, I know as I read and write the word of God, I am so thankful and grateful to the love of God through the Holy Spirit. The verses in Colossians 3:16-17
say to let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly–and whatever we do to give thanks to God the Father.
Dr. David Jeremiah states, “A Spirit-Filled Christian is characterized by peace and gratitude is the result.” Back to Psalm 100, we are to enter his courts with praise. Peace is one aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22. ‘ I continue to write the book of Ephesians.
Additionally, “A Spirit-Filled Christian is characterized by prayer and gratitude is the result.”
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
Beloved, we all want to be in the will of God, Dr. David Jeremiah states, “A Spirit-Filled Christian is concerned with the will of God, and gratitude is the result.”
” in everything give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Beloved, if we are not giving thanks, if we do not express gratitude, we are not in the will of God. Dr. Jeremiah states that the apostle Paul writes at least twenty times about gratitude in the four books Ephesians, Galatians, Philippians, and Colossians.
Lastly, gratitude is a choice. Sometimes it is a hard choice to make. But it is the right choice. We can complain or we can give the day to the Lord, after all, this is the day to rejoice and be glad.
Dusty Road
For me, the mornings are hard for me, mainly due to the aches and pains. This is when I tend to be grumpy. When do you notice you are grumpy?
I work with a sweet social worker that has a coffee cup collection. She posts something uplifting and positive every day. I have never seen her be grumpy. She shines light wherever she goes. Recently, I was able to pray for her on our busy weekend. She gave me thanks. We need more people like her in the world. Does gratitude and thanks fill your day? Do you have a coffee cup collection?
Conclusion
As I stated, I was convicted when I read this chapter in this book, I have been known to be grumpy. Many have a gratitude journal. Daily, I visit thanksgiving in my prayers but sometimes my attitude is not one of gratitude and for that I need to repent. God gave his only son so that I have forgiveness of my sins, that alone is enough to be thankful. Not only do we have forgiveness of sins, you and I have eternal life. Now that is a reason to be grateful. Heaven is real, do you have your reservation?
Father God, let us be thankful for all of our blessings. May we count them one by one. May we be mindful that your love is everlasting. May we give thanks in all situations. In Jesus’s name, amen
How does the Word of God change how you approach life?
What piece of the Fruit of the Spirit do you need most in your life?
What is the will of God for your life?
