Summary of this week's sermon
Every week we want to have a 5 day devotional recapping our previous sermon so we can grow deeper together.
This Sunday Pastor Scott continued in our series for November entitled, "THX." Join us as we focus on a life of thanksgiving.
Day 1: Everyday is a Gift
Devotional
Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to go wrong? The alarm doesn't go off, traffic is terrible, and your coffee spills all over your shirt. It's easy to write off days like these as "bad days." But what if we shifted our perspective? Life has a way of testing our thankfulness through unexpected challenges. Whether it's an overflowing toilet, a fender bender, or simply running late for an important meeting, these moments reveal what's really in our hearts. The truth is, every single day we wake up is a gift from God - even the challenging ones. When we start to see each day as an opportunity rather than an obstacle, something beautiful happens. We begin to notice the small blessings we usually overlook: the breath in our lungs, the roof over our heads, the people who love us. These aren't accidents; they're evidence of God's faithfulness in our lives. The difference between a good day and a bad day often isn't what happens to us, but how we choose to respond to what happens. When we recognize that every day comes from the hand of a loving Father, we can find reasons to be grateful even in the midst of difficulty. This doesn't mean we ignore real problems or pretend everything is perfect. It means we choose to see our circumstances through the lens of God's goodness and faithfulness. Today, let's start building a foundation of gratitude by recognizing that this very day - with all its imperfections - is a gift worth celebrating.
Bible Verse
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Reflection Question
What are three specific things about today that you can thank God for, even if this day hasn't gone according to your plans?
Quote
Every day is a good day. If you don't believe that, skip one.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of this day. Help me to see each moment as an opportunity to experience Your goodness, even when things don't go as planned. Open my eyes to the blessings I often take for granted. Amen.
Day 2: Beyond Thankfulness to Gratitude
Devotional
There's a significant difference between feeling thankful and living with gratitude. Thankfulness is often like a thermometer - it rises and falls based on our circumstances. When good things happen, we feel thankful. When challenges arise, our thankfulness can quickly disappear. But gratitude operates on a completely different level. Gratitude is like a thermostat - it maintains a steady temperature regardless of external conditions. It's an attitude of appreciation that doesn't require good things to happen and doesn't falter when difficulties come our way. Think about it this way: thankfulness says, "I'm grateful because my day went well." Gratitude says, "I'm grateful even though my day was challenging." This deeper level of appreciation comes from understanding that our circumstances don't define our worth or God's love for us. When you're running late for work, your coffee spills in your car, and you realize your sock is twisted inside your shoe, gratitude is the smile on your face as you reach your destination. It's the ability to find peace and even joy in the midst of life's minor (and major) frustrations. This kind of gratitude isn't natural - it's supernatural. It comes from a heart that has been transformed by the love of Christ and a mind that has been renewed by His truth. While our situations will always change, our gratitude can remain constant because it's rooted in the unchanging character of God. Today, let's move beyond situational thankfulness to intentional gratitude.
Bible Verse
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." - Colossians 3:15
Reflection Question
Can you think of a recent difficult situation where you could have chosen gratitude over frustration? How might that choice have changed your experience?
Quote
My situation can determine my thankfulness, but my mindset will dictate my gratitude.
Prayer
Lord, help me develop a heart of gratitude that isn't dependent on my circumstances. Teach me to find reasons for appreciation even in challenging moments. Let Your peace rule in my heart today. Amen.
Day 3: Adjusting Your Life Lens
Devotional
Have you ever looked through a camera lens that was out of focus? Everything appears blurry and distorted until you make the right adjustments. The same principle applies to how we view our lives. The lens through which we see our circumstances determines whether we live with gratitude or frustration. When we focus only on our immediate problems and temporary troubles, everything can seem overwhelming. But when we adjust our lens to see the bigger picture - God's eternal perspective - everything changes. Our current challenges, while real and sometimes painful, represent just a tiny fraction of our eternal existence with God. Consider this perspective shift: all of the problems you're going to have in your entire eternity are right here, right now, in this temporary life. But all of the blessings you're going to experience throughout eternity? They're not all contained in this brief earthly journey. The best is yet to come. This doesn't minimize our current struggles, but it puts them in proper perspective. When we remember that our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, we can face today's challenges with hope and gratitude. Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. But what if we chose to be thankful that thorns have roses? This simple shift in perspective can transform how we experience every aspect of our lives. Living with gratitude requires us to intentionally adjust the lens through which we view life, choosing to see God's goodness even in difficult circumstances.
Bible Verse
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." - 2 Corinthians 4:17
Reflection Question
What current challenge in your life might look different if you viewed it through the lens of God's eternal perspective?
Quote
In order to live with gratitude, I must adjust the lens I view life through.
Prayer
God, help me adjust my perspective to see my life through Your eyes. When I'm focused on temporary troubles, remind me of Your eternal promises. Give me the wisdom to find roses among the thorns. Amen.
Day 4: Let His Message Live In You
Devotional
Many of us have accumulated a wealth of knowledge about God. We know the stories, memorize the verses, and can discuss theology with confidence. But there's a crucial difference between having information about God in our heads and allowing His message to truly live in our hearts. Knowledge about God is important, but it's not enough. The real transformation happens when we let the message of Christ dwell in us richly - when His teachings move from our minds to our hearts and begin to influence how we actually live each day. This is where gratitude becomes more than just a nice idea. When Christ's message truly dwells in us, gratitude becomes a natural overflow of our transformed hearts. We begin to see our lives, our relationships, and our circumstances through His eyes. We start to understand that every good gift comes from above, and even our challenges can be used for His glory. The word "dwell" suggests more than a temporary visit. When someone dwells in a place, they make it their home. They settle in, unpack their belongings, and establish their presence. When we let Christ's message dwell in us richly, we're inviting His truth to make itself at home in every corner of our lives. This kind of deep, abiding presence of God's truth naturally produces gratitude. When we truly understand who God is and what He has done for us, thankfulness isn't something we have to manufacture - it flows naturally from hearts that have been touched by His love. Today, let's move beyond surface-level knowledge to heart-level transformation.
Bible Verse
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." - Colossians 3:16
Reflection Question
What's one truth about God that you know in your head but need to let sink deeper into your heart and daily life?
Quote
So many of us who claim the name of Jesus have a ton of knowledge about God. But what we don't have is the impact of God in our lives. Because while we have it here, we fail to let it live here.
Prayer
Father, I don't want to just know about You - I want to know You. Let Your message dwell richly in my heart, transforming not just my thoughts but my actions and attitudes. Fill me with genuine gratitude. Amen.
Day 5: Living Gratitude Changes Everything
Devotional
There's something powerful that happens when we choose to live with genuine gratitude - it doesn't just change us, it impacts everyone around us. When others see us processing difficult situations differently than they do, it makes them wonder what we have that they don't have. This is the evangelistic power of gratitude. When everyone else is frustrated, complaining, bitter, and angry, and then they see you handling the same situation (or even a worse one) with grace and thankfulness, it opens doors for conversations about faith that might never have existed otherwise. It's hard to be ungrateful and do it in the name of Jesus. If we claim to follow Christ but constantly complain about our circumstances, we're sending mixed messages about the power of the gospel in our lives. As one wise person said, "If you look like you've been sucking on lemons, don't talk about Jesus." But when we live with authentic gratitude, we become living testimonies to the transforming power of Christ. Our attitude becomes a bridge that leads others to experience the grace of Jesus. This isn't about pretending everything is perfect or putting on a fake smile. It's about genuinely finding reasons to be grateful even in challenging circumstances. Remember, if you own just one Bible, you are abundantly blessed since one-third of the world doesn't have access to one. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are blessed since a million people won't survive this week. When we truly grasp how blessed we are, gratitude becomes our natural response. Your decision to be grateful today might be exactly what someone else needs to see to believe in the hope that Jesus offers.
Bible Verse
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:17
Reflection Question
Who in your life might be watching how you handle difficulties, and how could your attitude of gratitude point them toward Jesus?
Quote
My attitude, your attitude and the decision to be grateful will lead to others experiencing the grace of Jesus.
Prayer
Lord, help my life be a testimony to Your goodness. When others see how I handle challenges, let them see You in me. Use my gratitude to open doors for conversations about Your love and grace. Amen.