I want to share something with you from a personal perspective.
Although this year has been a challenging year, I find myself still saying, "Thank you, Lord Jesus."
And I say this because how could I not thank the Lord? How could you not thank the Lord?
I'm living. I'm healthy. I'm of a sound mind.
I'm blessed to have a family. blessed to have food on my plate and a place to stay.
This is not to say everything has been perfect or everything is perfect, but the message I want to tell you is be thankful.
Find something, find one thing to be thankful about.
We should be believers that rejoice and give thanks to God Almighty through the good and through the bad.
Sure, the car broke down, but I thank you for legs that can walk.
Maybe I've lost my job. It's a problem.
But I can still thank God I haven't lost my health.
Yes, you might not be able to afford the most luxurious dining experience, but thank God that you have never missed a meal.
People of God, we ought to have a spirit of thankfulness. Let it be your disposition in life to stop for a moment and say thank you.
When Jesus healed the ten lepers in Luke 17, only one came back to say thank you.
Think about that. Only one. If I would get the chance to speak to those other nine lepers, I'd ask them, "How could you take the goodness of the Lord for granted like that? You couldn't say thank you.
Unfortunately, many of us today do the exact same thing.
We don't take the time to simply thank God for things that we now deem to be the norm.
When the bills are paid, when there's money in the bank, when there's plenty to laugh and be happy about, do you remember to say, "Thank you, Lord. I know where you've brought me from. I remember when it wasn't like this."
Or how about when you're struggling, work is tough, the business isn't performing well, and you have problems.
Do you remember to say thank you?
Thank you, Lord, because I may be hardpressed on every side, but I am not crushed.
I may be perplexed, but I am not in despair.
Persecuted, but not forsaken.
Struck down but not destroyed.
Find something to be thankful about.
Do not take the goodness of the Lord for granted.
The words of Jesus to that one leper who said thank you or arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.
I pray that this may be the reality of our lives today.
As we pray and say thank you, Lord, I would encourage you to turn to the chapter of Psalm 136, a psalm of thanks.
Verse 1 to 9, the Bible reads,
"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."
Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of Lords, for his steadfast love endures forever.
To him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever.
To him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever.
To him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever.
To him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever.
The sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever.
The moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever.
There are so many reasons to praise God.
There are so many reasons to be in awe of God.
There are so many reasons to give thanks to God.
We should give him thanks for his loving kindness, for his graciousness, for the never ending mercy and compassion over our lives.
Now, my message today should serve you as a reminder to never become so cold in your heart that you can no longer see the goodness of the Lord.
Never become so accustomed to God's goodness that you begin to take it for granted.
Be thankful, saints.
Be thankful always and in all circumstances.
There are obvious things we should be thankful for like your health, the fact that you have a bed to sleep on, food in your stomach, electricity, and shelter.
These are basic things, things we take for granted.
But just speak to someone who does not have shelter.
See how they are living and you'll realize how blessed you are.
Speak to someone who does not know for sure that they'll eat today. Hear what they tell you.
That is when you will realize how good God is to you.
These are small things, things we now expect to have.
But life can happen to any of us.
And so we need to be thankful to God for so much including the little things, the things we consider to be right.
Psalms 107, verse 1 and 2 says,"¹Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. ² Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,"
I want to encourage you, count your blessings. One by one.
I want to encourage you to never take God's goodness for granted.
Ask yourself, where would I be if God never loved me unconditionally?
Where would I be if I was never truly forgiven?
What would have become of me if God had never saved my life?
Where would I be if the Lord left me alone and in the hands of the enemy?
If God took away my health, my family, my life, where would I be?
These are difficult and scary thoughts.
Because if it was not for Jesus Christ, the truth is, I don't know where I'd be.
If it was not for the Lord Jesus Christ, if it wasn't for his grace, his amazing grace, I'd still be blind to his love and his mercy, I'd still be lost.
Now, saints, my question to you is, as you face your problem, whatever name it may have, whatever form it may be in, are you facing your problem with the Lord Jesus Christ?
As you go through that pain, as you go through that suffering, are you still trusting him?
Are you still believing in him?
Be encouraged, saints. No one is without problems.
But there is hope.
There is victory for the one who faces their problems while they trust in God.
So saints, we need to be thankful.
Thank God that He's the Father to the fatherless.
He's a protector of widows.
Thank the Lord Jesus Christ that he is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.
He's a saviour to those who are lost, a healer to those who are sick, a redeemer to those who are condemned.
Now, I really believe that from this type of mindset, a mindset that fully appreciates God's goodness and God's blessings, we should move from the what-ifs to that benefit us and look to serve God.
We should begin to have a desire that says, "If only I could lead more people to Jesus Christ.
If only I could be of service in the body of Christ.
If only I can walk in the will of God and walk in a way that is pleasing to him.
If only I could live a life that glorifies God every day.
This should be our only desire to live a life that is pleasing to God and to live a life that seeks to serve him.
So always be thankful and remember 1 Chronicles 16:34. "Oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good. For his loving kindness endures forever.
It's a dangerous thing to simply get accustomed to God's blessings and begin to take them for granted.
And so I encourage you today, let your prayer be, Lord, let me never become lukewarm.
Let me never become a half-hearted Christian, but may your fire burn brightly within my heart.
Furthermore, I want to warn you that it's a dangerous thing to fail to be thankful.
Failing to give thanks to the Lord is a sign of an unrepentant heart.
Failing to be thankful is effectively taking God for granted.
Now, when was the last time you prioritized giving thanks to the Lord?
When was the last time you genuinely were grateful for God's hand being over your life?
John 3:16 is a verse that shows just how deep God's love is.
The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and onl that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Listen, find something to be thankful about.
Don't take the goodness of Lord for granted because there is always there's always something to be grateful about.
I understand you might not be able to afford the most decadent but thank God that you have never missed a meal.
Sure, the car might have down. It is an inconvenience, but thank God you're still able bodied and your legs that can walk.
The words of Jesus to that one leper who came back thank you. His words were, "Rise and go. Your faith has made you well.
I pray that this may be the reality of our lives today as we pray and thank Lord for his goodness, for his love, and for his mercy.
As we go to God. let's take the situation with us that seems to be unfavorable at the moment.
Let's sit in that rough place for a moment.
The place where it's actually hard to say thank you.
The place where it's actually difficult to find something to be thankful for.
But I dare you to think about God.
Think about his goodness.
Think about his love and his mercy.
And I dare you to write in that place where it seems to make no sense.
Simply tell him thank you.
Sometimes it's the gratitude that paves the way for you to be blessed.
I used to hear the older people say that it is something about a child's gratitude that makes you want to do even more for them.
So just remember it might be the thank you that actually leads you into the blessing.
Now let us pray.
Heavenly Father, as your children, we are ever so grateful for your goodness.
We're ever so thankful for your loving kindness.
I am thankful because your word in John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you. My peace l give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
I am thankful, Lord, because your word in Isaiah 43:2 says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."
I am grateful, King Jesus, because your word says in Romans 8 28. And we know that for those who love God, all things will work together for good. For those who are called according to his purpose.
I am grateful for your word.
Your word that guides my thoughts and calm my fears.
I am grateful for your word that provides me with strength in troubling times.
Your word that tells me not to let my heart be troubled by this world.
But in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, I will let all of my requests be made known to God.
I'm grateful, King Jesus, because I have you.
I can call on your name.
You redeem, you heal, you strengthen, you liberate.
I thank you for always being by my side because with you I am strong and I will overcome every attack from the enemy.
I thank you for your precious blood because through the power that is in your blood, fear and worry can never take control of my life.
I am so grateful for your protection, for the privilege of having you as my keeper and watching over me.
You hold my future and my life in your loving hands.
And we trust that everything works together for our good.
I thank you, Lord Jesus, for meeting my greatest need, which is to be saved.
Thank you for your wonderful sacrifice on the cross.
Psalm 100, verse 1-5 says, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord, he is God. It is he who made us and we are his. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him. Bless his name. For the Lord is good. His steadfast love endures forever and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100 is a psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his [not ourselves];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Holy Spirit, help me to serve the Lord with gladness and delight.
Help me to come before his presence with joyful singing.
I pray that the Holy Ghost would help me to know and fully recognize with gratitude how good God is.
You are the good God because you have saved me with amazing grace.
Indeed, I once was lost, but your love has found me and it's welcomed me into your kingdom.
I once was blind, but your word has helped me to see truth and light.
It is a blessing to experience your presence, Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus, I thank you for giving your angel charge over my family and me.
Thank you for your supernatural protection.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 says, "But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the word of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.
Victory comes only through you, Lord Jesus.
I believe that if I only keep my eyes on you, I will be steadfast in faith, immovable in faith.
May your name be lifted high always.
I thank you for listening to this prayer. In Lord Jesus Christ's name I pray.
Amen.
God loves a willing heart. But what exactly is a willing heart?
Well, a willing heart is a heart that wants to.
So, in a way, you could say God loves a heart that wants to chase after him, a heart that wants to seek his presence.
God loves a heart that wants to serve him and be used for his glory.
You see, if we think about it, our hearts can so often be filled with many, many things, many passions, many desires, many goals and plans.
But how much of what is in your heart can be described as a willingness to seek God?
Too often I've seen people lay the blame for their failures on the devil when in all actuality the root issue was that they never had a willingness to seek God or obey his word.
And so that left them exposed to the enemy.
Too many people put the blame on their circumstances or they want to blame it on their past or even on other people.
But if you really get to the bottom line, their issue is a heart issue.
They have no willingness.
They have no 'want to'.
Their heart is not willing to be led by the good shepherd.
Their heart's not willing to repent and turn away from sin.
And let me tell you, a heart that's not willing is often a heart that's in rebellion.
Let me put it this way. l am not a Formula 1 driver because l've never had a willingness to pursue the sport.
Therefore, you can never attain what you don't want.
Matthew 15: verses 8 and 9 say, "These people
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