Category Archives: Gratitude
At Midnight
Acts 16:23-24 “They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So, the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.”
Apart from the pain of accusation, Paul and Silas also felt the pain of arrest. The pain of arrest is being confined by a stronger force. You can only be arrested by someone or something that is stronger than you. Read the rest of this entry
Worship Happens When…
John 4:22-23 “You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship… But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.”
2 Sam.6:20 “…Michal …said, ‘How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!’ (NIV). 2 Sam.6:21-22 “David said to Michal, ‘It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house… I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honour.’” (NIV). This is so huge! I urge you to spend some time just meditating on it. Read the rest of this entry
Grateful not Entitled
Matt. 20:28 “For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served but to serve and give his life in exchange for the salvation of many.” (TPT).
Luke 17:10 “And that’s how it should be with you. When you’ve done all you should, then say, “We are merely servants, and we have simply done our duty.” (CEV, emphasis added). Read the rest of this entry
Best vs. Easy; Habits II
Luke 17:10 “And that’s how it should be with you. When you’ve done all you should, then say, “We are merely servants, and we have simply done our duty.” (CEV, emphasis added)
Today’s scripture is so instructive. I urge you to spend time meditating on Luke 17:7-10. It will rid you of every trace of entitlement in your heart, leaving you totally grateful. Read the rest of this entry
Best vs. Easy; Habits I
Luke 17:10 “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” (NIV)
Today, we dive straight into the habits of choosing what is best over what is easy. The first is, change ‘I deserve’ to ‘I am responsible’. ‘I deserve’ is a dangerous phrase. A son walks up to his Dad and says, ‘Dad, I deserve a new video game.’ No, you do not! Read the rest of this entry
L.L.T.H.W.
Ps. 119:71 “My troubles turned out all for the best— they forced me to learn from your textbook.” (MSG)
We are loved, we are blessed, we are unique, we are anointed, but we are not entitled. Nobody owes us anything. Nobody owes you anything. When we look at the nature of entitlement, there is a general entitlement, which is like in people’s DNA. Read the rest of this entry
Check Up
Gal. 6:4-5 “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”
Entitlement robs us of our gratitude. Even in your relationship with your spouse, your children, your colleagues, any time you feel entitled to something, you need to stop and check because it will rob you of your gratitude. Read the rest of this entry
Grateful Heart
Ps. 138:1-2 “I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honour of your name.”
Let’s start our time in God’s presence today by thanking Him for His kindness and mercy. I pray that in His presence, God will breathe upon us today, He will teach us His Word Himself even in this New Year. Read the rest of this entry
The People, I
John 7:17-18 “Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honour the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.”
Over the next few days, we will be studying John 7:25-53 [please read]. Studying the Book of John has been amazing. I want you to read the following passages on your own: John 6:16-21, John 6:22-59, John 6:60-70, and John 7:1-25. Devote a day to each section or more and really get into God’s Word. Read the rest of this entry
Gift Thanks
Ps. 107:21-22 (KJV) “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing.”
For the past few days, we have been looking at how to show our gratitude to God. Gratitude is big and we cannot over emphasize the importance particularly for us God’s people. We can show gratitude by singing from our hearts, by telling others the good news, by serving with the abilities He has given us, and by giving an offering back to God. Read the rest of this entry
