In this world we have individually passed through some difficult situations. The after effect of such situation are visible marks of stress, sorrow, pains or bitterness. Those difficult situations were sometimes amplified to the extent that they beclouded most of best and good times we had enjoyed. When they persisted, they sometimes cast burden on our tomorrow and planted resentment in our hearts not only to some individuals but sometime our creator-the Almighty God.
It is high time we came to the realization of how blessed we are, no matter what our condition may be, when we have a grateful heart. For when we bless God for mercies we prolong them, when we bless God for miseries, we usually end them. Praise is the honey of life which a devout heart extracts from every bloom of providence and grace.
Discussion
(a) In the light of the following passages identify various forms of hearts the people can have. Psalms 73:1; 101:5; 109:16, Isaiah 35:4; Jeremiah 17:9 Matt. 5:8, John 14.1, Act. 2:46, II Timothy 2:22
(b) Mention four things that had happened to you, which almost made it difficult for you to thank or be grateful to God.
(1) (2)
(3) (4)
(c) Are they sufficient for keeping us from being grateful to God in view of the followings-good health, keeping us alive, our children, homes, friend, comfort, guidance, sleep, grasses, lovely flowers, hill and plain, returned morning light, bright sun, water, wood, journey mercies…
(d) Thou hast given so much to me
Give one thing more-a grateful heart
Not thankful when it pleaseth me
As if thy blessings had spare days
But such a heart whose pulse may be thy praise.
(e) Discuss how the following elements of gratitude can become our daily Attitude – Appreciation, Expression of thanks, Praises, Thanksgiving and Worship
The Portrait of Job’s Grateful Heart
Sometimes in our lives, we go through hard times and sufferings. We desire for explanations on why God allows such difficult trials to happen to us. Job’s experience shows that we can receive help in time when we are surrounded with troubles and troubling questions.
(a) It was Satan who planned and implement Job’s suffering. Satan attacked
(i) Job’s character (1:6-12)
(ii) Job’s property and children (1:12-19)
(iii) Job’s health (2: 1-8)
(iv) Job’s personality (to the extent that he could no longer be recognized) (2:11-13)
(b) Job’s responses to the situation (1:20-22). He arose, tore his robe, shaved his Head and fell to the ground and WORSHIPPED God.
(c) Please recall the elements of grateful heart in (E) under Discussion and classify them into two groups of (i) appreciation for what a person has done for you and (ii) Appreciation for who a person is
(d) Worship is our expression of love, appreciation, thanksgiving…to God not because of what He has done (all His good deeds) but because of Whom He is. GOD is God no matter what happens to us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Please worship Him
(e) Through this experience Job learned to appreciate God’s gift to him even more (42:1-6). For this purpose God restored or gave Job twice the number of livestock he had before in line with His word in Exodus 22:4
(f) Please write out some of the things God has done for you in the last eight (8) months.
(g) What are the importance of the following in the actual expression of our Gratitude?
(i) A special Gift
(ii) Your time in serving God and others
(iii) A word of encouragement to someone God has used in your life
(iv) A phone call/Text message
(v) A surprise visit
(vi) Mention others
True Attitude of Gratitude
- The true attitude of gratitude focuses on the greatness of the giver rather than the gift.
(b) The true attitude of gratitude leads us to love God more for who He is than for what He has done or He has not done. This was the principle that helped Job during his trial
(c) True attitude of gratitude helps us to understand the depth of our frailties/weakness vis-à-vis the richness of God’s grace.
(d) True gratitude lifts one’s eyes to see what is ahead-imagine a life where tears and sorrow will no longer be present. Imagine a place where all wrongs will be righted and all faithfulness rewarded.
(e) True attitude of gratitude recognizes that even in this life God has been very generous to us notwithstanding what we had gone through.
(f) True attitude of gratitude recognizes that pain/hurt (even though not convenient) is really our friend because it alerts us to the fact that something is wrong. People with leprosy are without this friend. For example, if you mistakenly grasp the mental handle of a hot pan on the stove, your hand gets burned. But a leper will feel nothing only to realize latter that his hand has been severely burned and damaged even without feeling anything. Pain is part of life.
(g) True attitude of gratitude releases our bitterness and restores our joy.
Conclusion
The greatest way to show God how grateful you are is to receive the gift He offers. Stop running away from Him; stop ignoring Him, instead admit your sin and acknowledge that Jesus died for you and receive His gift of forgiveness and salvation.