When our hearts are grateful they are great-filled hearts. It is more than a play on words but speaks concerning our attitude. Gratitude is the key to a rewarding life and a great-filled heart. We all know how easy it is to allow other things to fill our hearts, but when we are grateful, greatness fills our hearts. Sir John Templeton, the billionaire, said that without gratitude, you'll never be rich, no matter how much money you have. Gratitude is the key to a rewarding life; ingratitude is a prescription for misery. We all have to practice being grateful - for it is not automatic but learned and you have to fight off the feelings of entitlement and realize you are blessed. If God never did anything else for me—if He never answered another prayer or never sent another blessing my way—I could not pay Him back, even in a thousand lifetimes, for all that He has already done for me. Though we already had our Thanksgiving Service - this past Sunday Night, let me give you a simple message to ponder in the days ahead:Isaiah 12 is one of the shortest chapters in the book of Isaiah, and it's also one of the most powerful.
1. He Comforts You With Forgiveness.
People are filled with guilt and as a pastor my hardest task is to get them to see how free they are in Jesus and how much grace there is in Christ. God wants, more than anything else, for you to experience the comfort of his forgiveness. He doesn't want you to live a life of isolation, seeking fulfillment in things, medication, alcohol, money, and all the other empty pleasures the world has to offer. He wants to bury your past, take away all of your sins, and give you a new life. Isaiah said...(v. 1) "I will praise you, O Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me."We've all done things we regret. And yet, God has made us an incredible offer: "Turn to me, and I will remove the pain of those regrets, and I will comfort you with mercy and forgiveness.” This is something to be grateful for. Because of God's grace, we can begin every day with a sense of gratitude: "God, thank for you for forgiving my sins and thank you for comforting my troubled soul."
2. He Provides Strength in Your Weakness.
Isaiah said...(v. 2) "Surely God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song."We all face tough times. I am dealing with some tough situations but yet I am looking at the things I have to be thankful for and embracing His strength for me. In tough times may you and I listen for the voice of God that speaks: "Trust me, and don't be afraid. I will give you strength. I will take care of you."The Lord not only wants to save us and provide heaven for us but also the strength and courage to live day to day.We can place our trust in God and this too will give us a great-filled heart.
The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
Do not be afraid of any of them, for I am with you and will rescue you. (Jeremiah 1:8)
Peace I leave with you...do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
3. God is with us - He is never far away.
(v. 6) Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." He is "Among you." He is here. He is with us now. We don't pray to a distant God who is untouchable and disconnected - He is here and with us each day.
Jesus said...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)
In the book of Hebrews he said...Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
God is with YOU! Rejoice - be grateful. He's not mad at you; He wants to forgive you and comfort you. He wants to strengthen you and desires that you be filled with the promise that He is with you. Isaiah said...(v. 4) "Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy..."
Gratitude is the key to a GREAT and rewarding life; it is the key to a vibrant relationship with God. Our relationship with Him does not begin with what we do for Him; it begins with accepting what He has done for us. That's why Isaiah said...(v. 3) "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."With joy? Sounds like gratitude - sounds like greatness, a great-filled heart. We have reason to celebrate and rejoice - forgiveness, comfort, salvation, strength, and His promise to be with us always. Have a great-filled Thanksgiving - I know I will,
Pastor Bernie
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2 comments:
Pastor Bernie, I too enjoyed your comments. I forget to give thanks for so many things and see the glass as less than half or to ask, what glass?
You gave me lots to think about. Thanks papa for a good comment too.
I am glad to have found your blog and have read numersous articles you have written in the Lompoc Record. I hear such great things about your church and the commmunity work you are doing. Grateful people tend to share and give and serve others.
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