Title: Growing in Gratitude
Author: Robert Dawson
Text: Psalm 118
A man who had been lost in the woods recounted the traumatic ordeal with a friend. He shared how he had become so disoriented, frightened, and felt so helpless that he knelt down in the dirt and leaves and prayed for help. The friend said, "Well, it looks like God answered your prayer!" The man replied, "Oh, no! Before God had a chance, a search party found me and led me out."
How often do we resemble that man?
- Blind to the gracious and providential blessings of God in our lives.
- Dismissive of the everyday graces that fill our lives.
We do not naturally gravitate toward gratitude. A grateful spirit does not spring up within us spontaneously, it must be cultivated and chosen. Gratitude is not a gift. It is a choice, which is why it is one of the most repeated commands in the Bible.
Time and again we are told to "give thanks." That's how the psalmist begins in Psalm 118. "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting."
Thanksgiving in Scripture is not tied to a holiday. It is to characterize all of our days. It is not relegated to a season. It is to be the settled disposition of the believer's soul. Why is thanksgiving so important for us? Thanksgiving...
Displaces self, undermines pride, and builds humility.
Thanklessness and ingratitude come from a heart that feels entitled. If you believe you deserve what is given and are owed services rendered, you will not be grateful.
Thankfulness comes to the surface when we are shown grace or mercy. Gratitude comes when we receive an underserved gift.
- When you are overwhelmed by the generosity of another, whether it is an extravagant gift or a deep need that has been met, you are humbled by it. (Throughout my ministry, people have been gracious to me to my family whether it was meat for the freezer, vegetables from the garden, a thoughtful gift, help when needed or a generous financ ...
Author: Robert Dawson
Text: Psalm 118
A man who had been lost in the woods recounted the traumatic ordeal with a friend. He shared how he had become so disoriented, frightened, and felt so helpless that he knelt down in the dirt and leaves and prayed for help. The friend said, "Well, it looks like God answered your prayer!" The man replied, "Oh, no! Before God had a chance, a search party found me and led me out."
How often do we resemble that man?
- Blind to the gracious and providential blessings of God in our lives.
- Dismissive of the everyday graces that fill our lives.
We do not naturally gravitate toward gratitude. A grateful spirit does not spring up within us spontaneously, it must be cultivated and chosen. Gratitude is not a gift. It is a choice, which is why it is one of the most repeated commands in the Bible.
Time and again we are told to "give thanks." That's how the psalmist begins in Psalm 118. "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting."
Thanksgiving in Scripture is not tied to a holiday. It is to characterize all of our days. It is not relegated to a season. It is to be the settled disposition of the believer's soul. Why is thanksgiving so important for us? Thanksgiving...
Displaces self, undermines pride, and builds humility.
Thanklessness and ingratitude come from a heart that feels entitled. If you believe you deserve what is given and are owed services rendered, you will not be grateful.
Thankfulness comes to the surface when we are shown grace or mercy. Gratitude comes when we receive an underserved gift.
- When you are overwhelmed by the generosity of another, whether it is an extravagant gift or a deep need that has been met, you are humbled by it. (Throughout my ministry, people have been gracious to me to my family whether it was meat for the freezer, vegetables from the garden, a thoughtful gift, help when needed or a generous financ ...
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