The Practice of Gratitude

Psalm 136
Psalm 92 “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord”

His Goodness
• He is Holy
• He defines Good-“God is good by His own essence. God is not only good in His essence, but good by His essence. He is essentially good by His own essence; therefore, good of Himself; therefore, eternally good; and therefore, abundantly good.” (Paul Mizzi)
• Everything He does is good. To say that God is bad, the opposite of good, is to say that He is not God at all. For every good gift comes from the Father above which there is no variableness of turning. Thank God for breath of life given to all men
• Goodness is not synonyms with mercy. Mercy implies that the recipient of mercy is indebted and desires forgiveness for his debt. And God’s mercy, reached down to man and shows mercy. Mercy is an extension of God’s Goodness.
• God is so good. Thank God for His holiness, righteousness, and His bountiful blessing toward ALL men.
His Greatness
• The wonders of His creation- we only need to look at the vastness of the heavens, how they declare His Glory. Search out the invisible through the eyepiece of a microscope to see the greatness of God’s creation. How foolish is man, to think that such wonder come about through chance. I will choose to thank God for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. For marvelous are thy works. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. How great thou art!
• He is Omnipotent-No mere man can conceive of God's might; God himself alone comprehends it. Man's power is limited, his measuring rod is too short to acquire a proper idea of the incomprehensible omnipotence of God. He acts what He wills by His will. What manner of man is this? For even the wind and waves, obey Him. Let us give thanks for his great wonders!
His Guidance
• He is our light- In a world of darkness, He provide a path that shows the way. As He did with the children of Israel, the pillar of fire will give us directions.
• He is our shepherd- “Gentle shepherd, come and led us” If we follow the great shepherd of our soul, He will protect us from the predators of this world.
• You don’t have to be lost and confused about the will of God, Thank God, He has provided direction through His word and Holy Spirit.
His Gift
• God so Loved- He gave. His love for you and me set in motion the greatest sacrifice every known unto man.
• It is a free gift of God by grace- The 1st Adam brought death, the 2nd Adam, Jesus Christ brought the gift of life. By the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men that all men may live and be justified before God.
• It is not by works lest any man should boast, it is the gift of God.
• If you are tempted to complain, stop and give thanks. Thank God for this gift of life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus.
His Grace
• Split the vail in two- Made it possible to commune with God
• He did not forget us- In our low estate, unworthy
• He bought us back-Hosea bought Gomer back
• He desires a relationship-The prodigal son
His Graciousness
• He Supplies all our needs according to His riches in Glory
• His kindness toward his creation- Ye being evil, how much more God being good will give them that ask.
• We bow our heads in gratitude to give thanks for our daily provisions.
• Count your blessings one by one.
Gratitude- it is a good thing. The next time you find yourself being dissatisfied with your circumstance, reflect on his Goodness, consider His Greatness, rejoice in his Guidance, contemplate His Gift of life, marvel in His Grace, and be grateful for his Graciousness.