Title Gratitude that brings happiness
Contents
Hymn: 488 (New Hymn 428) 'Sunshine Shines on My Soul'
Meditation: 'The wisest person in the world is the one who learns, the strongest person in the world is the one who overcomes himself, and the happiest person in the world is the one who lives with gratitude in everything.' People who live with gratitude are much healthier and happier than those who don't. The higher the gratitude index, the higher the happiness index. Ordinary people appreciate 'when something goes well'. However, the teaching of the Bible is 'It will work out because you are thankful'.
Confession of Faith: Apostles' Creed
main text: '… You shall not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die' (Genesis 2:15-17).
In John 11, we see the scene where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
Lazarus' sister Martha complained, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died" (verse 21). Mary wept and the Jews who were there also wept. When the people were so discouraged, Jesus said, “… Father, I thank you that you have heard me” (verse 41).
And he called Lazarus out of the tomb. Jesus did not thank Lazarus after he was raised, but first offered a prayer of thanksgiving and called Lazarus from the tomb. Gratitude is what makes miracles. Happiness lies in being grateful. Happiness isn't something someone gives you, it's something you make. Gratitude is happiness. Gratitude brings happiness.
Why do people who believe in Jesus fail to give thanks? Because you are comparing yourself to others. Comparison is Satan's tool to deprive us of happiness and gratitude.
In a village, there was a man who obtained seven golden jars. When I received the jar, I found that six jars were full of gold, but the seventh jar was half full. To fill the seventh jar, the man turned all the junk he had into gold and put it in a half-full jar. But no matter how much I put it, the jar was not filled. In the end, he was not satisfied, and even though he owned many things, he lived in poverty all his life with a complaining heart.
Gratitude begins with remembering God's grace. Let's give thanks Gratitude is 'to say I received what I received'.
Prayer: God, give me the confession of the lips that I am grateful for and live in this day that is given to me today. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
Lord's Prayer