215 – Does your heart overflow with gratitude?

I've been thinking of everything I'm grateful for. With all the tensions in the world, not to mention the challenges in my own life, I’ve found that expressing gratitude helps get me refocused on God and brings some peace of mind.

Gratitude helps clear the air so my heart can breathe more freely.

This week's episode takes a deep dive into some of the many ways people in the Bible express gratitude or encourage others to be grateful.

Old Testament:

• The "thank offering" or "sacrifice of thanksgiving" was one of the first ways the Children of Israel expressed their thanks to God
• When David brought the Arc of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, he appointed people to collectively praise and thank God
• When Solomon brought the Arc of the Covenant into the Temple for the first time, he also appointed a group of people to thank God collectively
• Jehoshaphat sent people out to sing thanks to God to meet the warring armies
• Ezra appointed people to collectively thank God when they laid the foundation on which the Temple would be rebuilt
• Nehemiah appointed two whole choirs to thank God in song on the newly built walls of Jerusalem
• Psalms is full of gratitude to God
• Don't forget Daniel and Jonah, who thanked God in tough situations

New Testament

• Anna thanked God for letting her see the Messiah
• Jesus gave thanks before he fed the 5,000 and 4,000 people
• Jesus gave thanks at the Last Supper, even though he knew he would be betrayed and crucified
• Paul thanked God for so many things
  • The people he was writing to
  • The fact that he got to serve Christ
  • That Christ delivered people from their sins
  • He encourages us to be grateful for everything in the name of Christ Jesus

And sometimes we just need to thank God for being God.

What are some ways you can be more grateful?

Mentioned in this episode:
Episode 213: How to Be Grateful in Every Situation
Episode 111: What Was Jesus Thankful for?

Show notes:
Read the full transcript and all the Bible quotes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/215

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James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

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