This first series, called the Deadly Series, will be a 7-week long journey where we will be discussing the 7 deadly sins that God finds detestable to his people. There will be one sin per week, with each sin we will talk about the Godly traits we will need to exhibit to combat the deadly one. Don’t worry, we will discuss these sins in grave detail as this series will be very informative, thought-provoking, and loaded with various bible scriptures to help support and back each discussion-based topic.
Within this series, viewers/ readers will have an opportunity to purchase original content worksheets to further enrich their knowledge and gain even more Golden Nuggets!
Prayer: Father God we come to you as humbly as we know how to express great praise to you. As your children and followers of you we thank you for the air we breathe in our lungs and the blessing it is to be in our right minds. Father, we confess our sins to you, whatever that it is we confess it only to you. Give your people the strength and knowledge to correct themselves and follow the example of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
A Thankful Spirit
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2: 6-7
Thankfulness: is the expression of gratitude, especially towards God.
-dictionary.com
Expressing gratitude and thankfulness is something that each and every one of us should be doing when it comes to God. Once we realize that God is the reason we are alive another day, that we have activity in our limbs, that we aren't homeless, we have food on the table, clothes, money, a car to drive, and so much more we need to be sending a loud praise of thanksgiving unto him. Remember that without God nothing is possible.
What Does the Bible Say About Being Thankful?
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2
Just like we discussed last year in Weekly Topic Saturdays #21: Trials and Tribulations All Have Expirations, we should rejoice and be thankful in all situations especially when we are going through tests and trials. God uses those moments of trials and tribulations to mold and refine us into the people that he wants us to be. We have to be thankful that God sees the purpose and light in using that he wants to make us better. Think about Job in this, he endured so much but he was thankful for the process. He never stopped rejoicing even when he felt alone. He remained faithful over a few things.
Many people think that they only have to be thankful during the good times and they only have to pray during the bad. That is wrong. We have to pray and be thankful in the good times and in the bad.
People In The Bible That Were Thankful
David
When it comes to thanksgiving I think King David takes the cake. I think he is my favorite person in the bible when it comes to praise and thanksgiving. I mean like come on, David practically wrote all of Psalms, which is the book of praise, worship, and thanksgiving. David is an example of what praise she looks like. Even in his darkest upon darkest of days, David knew in his soul that he needed to praise and thank God. Here are a few passages from David that when he expressed thanksgiving to God.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
Psalms 107:1-6
Praise the LORD.Praise the LORD, my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 146: 1-10
Hannah:
If you turn to 1 Samuel 1: 2-20, you will find the story of Hannah. Elkanah has two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had many children while Hannah had none. Peninnah would treat Hannah badly about it because she knew she could not have children. (Sounds like pride to me)
Hannah over time became depressed, despite, and troubled by it, so much so that she went to God in prayer. She promised God that if she became pregnant that she would dedicate her son to him for all the days of his life. Over time Hannah prayed to God religiously, so much so that a priest named Eli took notice. He thought she was drunk at first. She exclaimed to him that she was only desperate, not drunk, praying to the Lord and pouring out all of her troubles to him.
Eli told her to "go in peace" and "may the Lord bless you with whatever you desire." Soon after Hannah was indeed pregnant and named her son Samuel.
Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
Psalms 107: 2
For Homework, I encourage you to read some passages in the book of Psalms. Strengthen your thanksgiving skills to God by using the book of psalms as your guide. Feel free to share your homework in the comment section below. I would love to hear from you!
Read these scriptures for starters:
Psalms 107: 1-43; 136-150
Benefits of Being Thankful
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His Name
Psalm 100:4
Draw Near To God. When we get closer to God, God gets closer to us. AMEN! That's the whole point of being a Disciple of Christ. When everything else falls or fails us, God is there to pick up the pieces of our heart, mind, body, and soul; because Noone else can. The relationship is what God is after, maturity, consistency, trust, and the connection is what we as His creation need to maintain and grow in.
Confidence in Christ. Anytime I read the bible I become confident in Christ Jesus. There's a confidence that you get knowing you have read the word of God and are corrected.
Emotion Regulator. One benefit that comes with being thankful is there's no room for envy or anything negative. You just naturally and genuinely come off positive. Your outlook is positive, you radiate light and hope for others, sometimes you don't even have to do or say anything, it's just there.
A Settled and Peaceful Mind. When we are settled in Christ we have an inner peace that calms us. Everything could be falling apart but a person looking from afar would have never guessed it. The peace that God gives his people surpasses all understanding, which makes us more resilient and vigilant for things to come.
Characteristics of Thankfulness
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever
1 Chronicles 16:34
Selflessness
Thankful people will put others before themselves. If they know that their fellow brother or sister is in need they will do what they can to help them out when they can. Thankful people recognize that they are not the only person that matters. They understand that God values relationships and that he values people that help others. Thankful people protect and are happy to help others. [ Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16]
Compassion
When we look at our lives and see how good we have it we must be thankful. Like I mentioned earlier there are some people who are not as fortunate, we must have compassion for those who are less fortunate and realize that in the blink of an eye it could be us that are less fortunate. I encourage you to be thankful for what you do have and compassionate for those who do not have it. [ Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8]
Forgiving
Thankful people are quick to forgive others that wrong them or hurt them. They do not hold grudges and they treat others with kindness even though they may not be deserving of it. They forgive just as God forgave us. [ Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32]
Positive/Optimistic
Thankful people don't have the time or energy to be negative. They view things as though the glass was half full instead of half empty. When you are positive you carry a sense of peace with you that surpasses all understanding. [Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9]
Appreciative
Thankful people are appreciative and grateful for all that they are given and all that they have. They are not envious of others and they do not compare themselves to others. They are content. [For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10]
Loss of Entitlement
Because thankful people are appreciative of what they have been given they are humble people. Their humility keeps them from feeling entitled because they know that in an instant it can all be taken away. [The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4]
Awareness
Thankful people are aware of the people around them. They view them as a person and for who they are rather than an opportunity. They are thankful for the uniqueness that the other person brings to the table. [Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10]
Put Your Thankfulness To Work ✅
Golden Nuggets I Leave You!
Hey Golden Family, once again I thank you for reading today's blog post, I hope it stirred up some thoughtful and thankful thoughts. I pray that this post inspires you to be more thankful and to always remember that God should be praised and thanked for all that he has done.
I leave you this, sometimes because life is passing us by we surely will forget just how thankful we sought to be. In addition to reading passages from Psalms for your home, try creating a notebook of things you're thankful for. 5 mins a day jot down things that God had blessed you within your life. If you don't have a notebook or time, simply say out loud things that God has done or what you're thankful for the most. God is always listening so talk to Him! Amen.
Questions To Consider:
How often do you give God thanks? Is it only in the good times? Why or why not?
How do you show Thankfulness?
What are 5 things that you're thankful for?
What has God blessed you with this year because you were faithful in thanksgiving towards Him?
What are some ways that you can teach thankfulness to others?
Do you possess the characteristics of thankfulness?