Promotional Talk - Gratitude

Good morning and Happy Sabbath Church!
Before I begin this short promotional talk, let us first pray.

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This Sabbath’s topic for a promotional talk is Birthday and Thanksgiving.
Birthdays are seldom forgotten, right? We usually remember the birth of dates of the people who are
close to us, our families, friends, classmates, workmates and our loved ones. So this morning, I will NOT
talk about birthdays and celebrations as we often hear sermons about these but what I want us to learn and
understand this morning is the importance of a deeper sense of thankfulness, which is GRATITUDE.
So, I entitled this short promotional talk as “ The Attitude of Gratitude”
Definition:
grat·i·tude
/ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/
noun
 the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
 involves humbly recognizing the source of the goodness, whether that is other people or a Divine
being.
So what is an Attitude of Gratitude?
 An attitude of gratitude means making the conscious habit of expressing appreciation on a regular
basis for big and small things alike.
Meaning, expressing gratitude is intentional, a conscious choice, a regular basis that you have set
yourself that regardless of circumstances you encounter everyday, you will still appreciate these
things whether they are bigh or small.
 An attitude of gratitude means that you operate from a place of abundance instead of a place of
scarcity and fear.
When you have an attitude of gratitude you are focused on expanding the positives in your life,
rather than dwelling on the negatives. When our eyes are clouded with fear and anxiety, we will
also see every situation with fear and anxiety. We look to the world and we see how terrible it is.
We look to ourselves, we see what we lack. But, with an attitude of gratitude, we will see the
abundance we have rather than scarcity and fear. As we grow in gratitude we learn to be thankful
not only for the good gifts but for everything in our lives, including the trials and sufferings.
How to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude? 3 WAYS
 Look for things to appreciate daily.

- Write
- Sing
- Share
- Give
 Surround yourself with gratitude-mindset-focused people

- Motivate
- Uplift
- Comfort
- Influence
 Commit to a gratitude practice

- Habit
- Pray
- Believe
What does an attitude of gratitude do to us?

University of California Davis psychology professor Robert Emmons, has studied gratitude and
compassion for many years. His research has found that grateful people -- those who treat gratitude as a
regular practice rather than a temporary state of mind -- have an edge on the not-so-grateful when it
comes to health.
Along with his study are the benefits of a grateful mindset that involves all aspects of our lives.
Physically, those who practice gratitude have stronger immune systems, are less bothered by aches
and pains, have lower blood pressure, sleep longer and wake more refreshed. More grateful people
reported better sleep, less fatigue, less depression, more confidence in their ability to care for themselves,
and lower levels of systemic inflammation (an immune response that can have negative effects on the
body, including the cardiovascular system).
The Bible as well attest to this. Proverbs 17:22 tells us, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a
broken spirit drieth the bones."
The mental benefits include higher levels of positive emotions, being more alert, alive and awake and
experiencing more joy, optimism and happiness. Gratitude can help us overcome fear and anxiety.
Grateful people also tend to have a higher sense of self-worth because they become aware of the network
of relationships that are looking out for them and supporting them.
Socially, grateful people also benefit because they tend to be more outgoing, and are more helpful,
generous, compassionate, and forgiving. They also experience less loneliness and feel less isolated.
Yes, these are the importance and the benefits of having an attitude of gratitude. However, God is
reminding us this morning of a more significant reason why we need to develop this attitude.
In our spiritual walk with Him, why does God wants us to cultivate an attitude of gratitude?
1.Gratitude glorifies God.
This alone would be reason to give thanks and express our gratitude to God. Our gratitude glorifies God
as we exalt not the gifts, but the Giver. Gratitude helps us realize all we have comes not because of us, but
from God. The definition itself tells that gratitude is humbly recognizing the source of the goodness, and
that is God. He is the source of everything.
And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will
receive more and more glory. 2 Corinthians 4:15
2. Gratitude helps us see God.

Gratitude opens our spiritual eyes. There’s a beautiful cycle in giving God thanks: the more we thank
Him, the more we see Him working in us and around us. Gratitude helps us sense God’s presence, His
personal care and His perfect timing.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from
the Father of the heavenly lights. James 1:16-17
3. Gratitude brings peace.

Gratitude helps us see that God’s hand is all over our circumstances. And God tells us when we give him
our thanks, He gives us supernatural peace. When we express our gratitude to Him in any circumstances,
especially in desperate situations, we can rest assured that He will provide and that gives us peace.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
4. Gratitude brings contentment and guards us against envy.

It’s said that gratitude makes what we have enough. If we aren’t grateful for what God has given us,
getting more won’t satisfy us either. We’ll keep seeking for more yet we’ll never be satisfied. Being
thankful and having the attitude of gratitude is the key to contentment. Furthermore, gratitude makes us
realize God has given us far more than we deserve. Because there’s enough for everyone, we can cheer
rather than compare. A heart wholly grateful has no room left for envy.
. . . godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and neither can we
carry anything out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 1 Timothy 6:6-8
5. Gratitude deepens faith.
Keeping a record of God’s past faithfulness is a faith boost when we face new difficulty. Writing
gratitude journals are testimonies that on our hardest days and in the worst circumstances, God’s record of
faithfulness is 100%. He answers our prayers in His time and we trust Him that He never changes.
That’s why God commanded Israel to remember His great deeds.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
“Gratitude comes when we understand how much God has given us and how much he has done for us,
and how little we deserve it all.”
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into
acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a
stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for
tomorrow” — Melody Beattie
“The Lord desires us to make mention of His goodness and tell of His power. He is honored by the
expression of praise and thanksgiving. He says, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me.” The people of
Israel, as they journeyed through the wilderness, praised God in sacred song. The commandments and
promises of the Lord were set to music, and all along the journey these were sung by the pilgrim travelers.
And in Canaan, as they met at their sacred feasts, God's wonderful works were to be recounted, and
grateful thanksgiving offered to His name. God desired that the whole life of His people should be a life
of praise.”—Christ's Object Lessons, 298, 299.
I pray that we will cultivate an attitude of gratitude for this is the will of God. Gratitude glorifies Him,
gratitude helps us see Him, gratitude brings peace, gratitude brings contentment and guards us against
envy, gratitude leads to joy and gratitude deepens our faith in God.
Good morning once again and Happy Sabbath.

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Good morning and Happy Sabbath Church!

Before I begin this short promotional talk, let us first pray.

So what is an Attitude of Gratitude?

How to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude? 3 WAYS

 Look for things to appreciate daily.

 Surround yourself with gratitude-mindset-focused people

 Commit to a gratitude practice

What does an attitude of gratitude do to us?

2. Gratitude helps us see God.

3. Gratitude brings peace.

4. Gratitude brings contentment and guards us against envy.

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