A THANKFUL HEART

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 (AMP. VERSION) : IN EVERY

SITUATION [NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES] BE
THANKFUL AND CONTINUALLY GIVE THANKS TO GOD; FOR
THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS.
A thankful heart is a heart that is filled
with gratitude and appreciation rather
than grumbling. It is a heart that
recognizes and acknowledges the
blessings and positive aspects of life. A
thankful heart is not only beneficial for
our own well-being but also for our
relationships and overall outlook on life.
Having a thankful heart allows us to focus on
the good things in life, even amidst
challenges and difficulties. It helps us to shift
our perspective and find joy in the simple
things. When we cultivate gratitude, we
become more aware of the abundance around
us and are able to find contentment and
happiness in the present moment.
Expressing gratitude and having a
thankful heart also has a positive
impact on our relationships. It
strengthens the bond between
individuals When we express
gratitude towards others, it not only
makes them feel valued and
appreciated but also deepens our
connection with them.
Furthermore, a thankful heart helps us to
overcome negativity and cultivate a positive
mindset. It allows us to let go of resentment, envy,
and dissatisfaction, and instead focus on the
blessings and opportunities that come our way.
This positive mindset can lead to increased
resilience, improved mental health, and a greater
sense of overall well-being.
In summary, a thankful heart is a powerful tool
that can transform our lives. It allows us to find
joy in the present moment, strengthen our
relationships, and cultivate a positive mindset.
So let us practice gratitude and nurture a
thankful heart to experience the many benefits
it brings.
Being thankful to God is an
expression of gratitude for
blessings that comes only from
a higher power.
 A thankful heart therefore, recognizes God for all he or she is and has.
 A thankful heart is humble before God and people for whatever achievements he makes. (not
proud)
 A thankful heart is cultivated like a farmland whereby thankfulness becomes a habit not only
of an occasion but an attitude of thanksgiving for even the smallest blessing that others may
not even notice around them. E.g. nature, and what others call ordinary happenings or
coincidences.
 A thankful heart shares and serves others as a sign of gratitude to God who gives what he has
in his possession. (not stingy or tight fisted)
 Do you have these features mentioned above?
13 REASONS FOR
THANKSGIVING : COL.
1:12B-14
12
AND GIVING JOYFUL THANKS TO THE FATHER, WHO HAS QUALIFIED YOU[
F]
TO SHARE IN THE INHERITANCE OF HIS HOLY PEOPLE IN THE KINGDOM
OF LIGHT. 13 FOR HE HAS RESCUED US FROM THE DOMINION OF DARKNESS
AND BROUGHT US INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE SON HE LOVES, 14 IN WHOM
WE HAVE REDEMPTION, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
1. Thanksgiving Glorifies God: 2 Cor. 4:15

 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may
cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
- When you are thankful, you are actually recognizing the source of your promotion,
achievement and all other blessings.
2. Thanksgiving Helps us see God: James 1-16-17 :”Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers
and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of
the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
- This is just like number one reason, it helps you shift attention away from you to God.
3. Thanksgiving Puts Us Squarely in His Will:
1 Thess. 5:18

 This allows you to totally surrender to God’s perfect will especially when things we
do not like (job loss, failures, etc. happen to us. We mostly find it difficult to thank
God in bad situations but God commands it.
4. Thanksgiving Brings Peace :Phil. 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
> When you thank God even when situation makes you afraid , there is deep inner peace
that God is in control.
5. Thanksgiving draws us to God: Luke
17:17-19

 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one
returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and
go; your faith has made you well.”
 Those who are ungrateful stay or run away from God. They see no reasons to come to
God. God blesses 10 people but only 1 one of them returns to God to say thank you. Are
you not among the run away nine?
6. Thanksgiving brings contentment: 1 Tim. 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great
gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we
have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
A thankful heart will be contented for his one pair of shoe when others around him has 10
pairs of shoe. He does not compare or envy for what he does not have.
7. Thanksgiving deepens faith: Psalm 136:1

 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
- When you keep record of God’s past faithfulness, it boosts your faith for the present and
future challenges. Thank God for past successes, it helps you to trust Him for more.
8. Thanksgiving leads to Joy- Psalm126:1-3 “When the LORD restored the fortunes of[a]
Zion,we were like those who dreamed.[b] 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our
tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done
great things for them.”3 The LORD has done great things for us,and we are filled with
joy.” Thanking God for what He has done is a gateway to joy even when what you want
presently has not yet been given to you.
9. Thanksgiving defies Satan’s lies-Psalm
84:11
 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Genuine gratitude to God
is a way to silence and rubbish whatever lies the devil is bringing to us. If Adam and Eve had
been truly grateful for what God gave them they won’t fall for the lies Satan told them. Many
men had fallen for the lies of the devil and they have found themselves in Adultery, thinking the
woman out there is better than their wives at home. Thank God for what you have and you will
not steal. There is nothing better out there than what God has given you.
 10. Thanksgiving guards against envy –Psalm 138:1 I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
 . Thank God for what you have and you will not envy or steal. There is nothing better out there
than what God has given you.
11. Thanksgiving helps us live in the present-
Ecc. 7:10

 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.
 This kind of question will not help you to see anything good in the present, neither will it help you to
be grateful for the present. Devil will always give you reasons why yesterday was better than today
but you should resist him by thanking God for the present too. Some had committed suicide because
of this same pessimistic attitude.
 12. Thanksgivng is a Testimony – Psalm 105:1 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make
known among the nations what he has done.
 It is an opportunity to share Christ with others around you.

 Do not waste time, begin to thank God and make it your habit. If I ask some of us to lead us in
prayer of thanksgiving what will you say?
The Wisdom in Thanksgiving: Psalm 107:1,
15-20

 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for
mankind, 16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.
 17
Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their
iniquities.18 They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to
the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word
and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
1. Giving thanks is God’s will for us: 1 Thess.
5:18

 If it is God’s will for us to give thanks, what are you doing when you refuse to give
thanks? You are going against God’s will which is called sin.
 There is no excuse for not giving thanks.
 2. Giving thanks is good for us – James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and
sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing
of your faith produces perseverance.
 It is good for our relationship with God
 It is good for our health
 It is good for emotions because an ungrateful is an unhappy person.
3. Giving thanks is a reminder of God’s
goodness to us- Psalm 103:1-5

 Your attidue of thanksgiving will always remind you of what God has done.
 4. Giving thanks honours God- 2 Cor. 4:15 : All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching
more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
 You are what you are by the grace of God.
 You have what you have by the providence of God. So giving thanks honours God wheras not doing so
honours Satan or flesh.
 5. Thanksgiving is a command: psalm100:4; 1 Thess. 5:18 therefore not thanking God is disobedience to
God’s command.
 6. Dangerous Consequences of not thanklessness- Gen. 4:3-4; Numbers 11:4-6,33
 God could reject the offering of a thankless person. Or an a person with a thankless attitude. Therefore be
careful when you come toGod, are you thankful or you are just there just for the sake of being there or
someone forced you.
Numbers 11:4-6,33

 the rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing
and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost
—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our
appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”
 33
But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the
anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.
 When you are ungrateful you are under God’s anger and God’s anger always bring
serious damage upon whoever causes it. Stop grumbling or being ungrateful.
WEEK 3 WHAT SHOULD WE THANK GOD FOR?
EPH. 5:19-20

 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.”
 We should thank God for everything. Can we mention those things?
 Salvation, material blessing, the people in your life, trials and persecution, Life, failures,
disappointment, sickness, healing, successes, mention more.
 CONCLUSION; Let us all go into the moment of saying thank you to God for everything.
To God be the Glory for enabling me to teach this subject.