GRATITUDE – A THANKSGIVING AND THANKS LIVING HEARTEDNESS

GRATITUDE – A THANKSGIVING AND THANKS LIVING HEARTEDNESS: IT’S THE POWER AND ESSENCE OF HIGHER ALTITUDE! 

“And WHATSOEVER ye DO in WORD or DEED, DO ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, GIVING THANKS to God and the Father by Him” Colossians 3:17. 

GRATITUDE – is the quality of being thankful and grateful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Having and expressing a heart of GRATITUDE is a gracious and graceful ATTITUDE to live in, for one’s ALTITUDE in doing life and living godly in the grace, in Christ Jesus’ stead. Hence there’s the need to live a GRATEFUL and THANKFUL life in all circumstances and situations, irrespective of one’s status, creed, colour, gender, or tongue. 

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be FILLED with the Spirit; 19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 GIVING THANKS ALWAYS for ALL THINGS unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:18-20. 

When you come to a place of acknowledging goodwill and goodness in life and grace – that place of not only GIVING God THANKS at the point of INCIDENCE, but you have a LIVING ATTITUDE to give THANKS ALWAYS without prejudice, therein is a set place knowingly and unknowingly of ALTITUDE in life.

That’s an atmosphere wherein you just LIVE in the REALM of THANKS – and such a heartfelt ATTITUDE from the heart, will ALWAYS reciprocate and create an enabling for an ALTITUDE that’s beyond human words, but found in knowledge and understanding, as the Holy writ do encourage. 

“By him therefore let us OFFER the SACRIFICE of PRAISE to God CONTINUALLY, that is, the FRUIT of our lips GIVING THANKS to his name” Hebrews 13:15. 

“And they sang together by course in PRAISING and GIVING THANKS unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people SHOUTED with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the FOUNDATION of the house of the Lord was laid” Ezra 3:11.  

I therefore urge you to ensure that your THANKSGIVING act of GRATITUDE becomes a THANKS LIVING ATTITUDE for your ALTITUDE. For God loves a cheerful giver of thanksgiving and appreciation of a goodwill. 

Keep the heart of gratitude [being thankful and grateful] alive and ever flaming in you, as you do life and live godly in the grace. Make it a living in the grace in Christ Jesus stead. 

SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK! 

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT: 

“Be CAREFUL FOR NOTHING; but IN EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the PEACE of God, which PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7. 

“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us OFFER the sacrifice of praise to God CONTINUALLY, that is, the FRUIT of our lips GIVING THANKS to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” Hebrews 13:14-16. 

“In everything GIVE THANKS: for this is the WILL of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

“Be ye therefore FOLLOWERS of God, as DEAR children; 2 and WALK IN LOVE, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: BUT RATHER GIVING OF THANKS . . .” Ephesians 5:1-5  

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We GIVE THANKS to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints . . .” Colossians 1:8. 

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and GIVING OF THANKS, be made for all men” 1 Timothy 2:1. 

SUMMARY: 

The message emphasises the importance of gratitude and thanksgiving in the life of a believer.  

Key points include: 

• Gratitude is a quality of being thankful and grateful, and it’s a gracious attitude to live in. 

• Believers are encouraged to live a grateful and thankful life in all circumstances, irrespective of status, creed, colour, gender, or tongue. 

• Giving thanks to God should not be limited to specific incidents but should be a living attitude.  

• Living in the realm of thanks creates an atmosphere of awesome altitude, beyond human words. 

• Scriptures encourage believers to offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God continually. 

• Gratitude is a will of God, and believers should make it a living attitude in their lives. 

Key Scriptures: 

• Colossians 3:17, Ephesians 5:18-20, Hebrews 13:15, Ezra 3:11, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 5:1-5, Colossians 1:3-4, 1 Timothy 2:1 

Main Takeaway: 
Gratitude is a powerful attitude that can elevate believers to a higher altitude in life. By living a life of thanksgiving and praise, believers can experience God’s presence and peace and demonstrate their love and appreciation for His goodness. 

REV. CHUKIE MORSI