Analysis: Developing A Thankful Heart

We are continuing our sermon series “Developing a Thankful Heart” We often talk about thankfulness in November as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. The Thanksgiving season is a unique opportunity to express our gratitude to God for His blessings. However, for those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, giving thanks should be a way of life every day of the year. Our goal in this series of messages is to learn how to be genuinely thankful people at all times, regardless of our circumstances. We are learning this by examining the principles in the Lord’s Prayer that motivate us to be thankful.
What motivates the followers of Christ to be thankful in all circumstances? Last Sunday we considered two truths. First, we have the Word of God.
Jesus encouraged his disciples to view God as their “Father”. It is love, more than any other trait that defines the Father. God’s love for His children is perfect. That means that God always seeks our best. God’s love for His children is also unconditional, since it is based on His nature rather than our performance. His love is unrelated to our achievements or failures. It is given to us freely, as a gift. Understanding how much we are loved promotes trust and gratitude. There are three benefits that come from trusting in God’s love. 1) Trusting in God’s love gives us freedom from guilt over past sins. Past sins can burden us with a sense of inadequacy and failure. Overwhelming feelings of shame can discourage us from even trying to follow Christ. But the forgiveness that God offers cleanses us from all sins. When we grasp the fact that our sins are forgiven, we can live with confidence and enthusiasm. Forgiveness of sins assures us that the past cannot suppress our potential for future success. 2.) Trusting in God’s love gives us freedom from panic over our present circumstances. Christians cannot deny the consequences of sin in their relationship with God. However, Romans 8:28 says that “God causes everything to work together for the good of His children.” This term “everything” includes our wrong decisions and even our willful rebellion against God. We cannot deny the consequences of sin, but God is able to bring good out of all circumstances for the Christian. 3.) Trusting in God’s love gives us freedom from worry about the future. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:35-39 that nothing the future may hold can separate us from God’s loving