In a world of conflicting values, where questions are more common than answers, God's Word provides everything we need to live a God-centered, truth-driven life. Join us now for The Word for Life, brought to you by Brookside Baptist Church and hosted by Pastor Greg Huffman, as he shares the truth for the day. Good morning. It's always a joy to join you on The Word for Life Radio Ministry. I'm Pastor Greg Huffman. And as we are in the Thanksgiving season at this point, last time we were together we talked about why give thanks. Why? And we talked about the fact that it turns our eyes upward to the one who gives everything that we need. It cures pessimism. And boy, don't we need a world where pessimism is cured and bitterness is washed away. Thirdly, we said it makes us easier with which to live, because happiness is a choice. Last time we were together, we finished out by talking about how having a grateful spirit, giving thanks, draws the unsaved to Jesus. Because they're watching our lives. It's just like the Babylonian king that threw the three Hebrew children into the fire. He didn't walk away. After they were in the fire, then he stood there and observed how they were enduring. And he said, did we not throw just three into the fire? But I see a fourth who appears to be like the Son of God. You see, when you and I are going through the fire, the unsaved world is watching. They're listening. And they take note. When we're thanking God instead of griping to God, it draws the unsaved to Christ. And we've talked about how important that response is to us. And we even gave you a verse last time, Hebrews 13, 15, that talks about a sacrifice of praise, and that is the fruit of lips that gives thanks to the Lord. And many times it is a sacrifice to praise God when we're going through the fiery trials. And as we said in closing, our vocabulary has to be saturated with thanksgiving, but heartfelt gratitude is always seen by our actions. Our actions. We can say, oh, I'm fine, I'm fine. But by our actions, people can tell that we're eating up with bitterness, we're frustrated, we don't understand, we're demanding answers. See, God always promises to fulfill His promises but never to listen to our demands. God is not obligated to give in to my demands, because He's God, and I'm not. And so people are watching my actions. See, when I'm truly appreciative of the Lord and everything that He's done for me, I'll demonstrate it with obedience and a godly lifestyle. Instead of selfishly clinging to whatever He's provided for me, I'll be free to give it up anytime that He wants me to. Sometimes we can get so caught up with my time and my talents and my gifts and my, my, my. Where did we get them in the first place? From God Himself. And so consequently, whatever He has given, He may ask for it back, so that He can bless it in a greater way when we put it in His hands. See, I'd like to encourage you to let Thanksgiving Day remind you to cultivate a grateful heart the next day and the day after that. See, there'll be times when thanking and praising God comes very easily because His blessings are so abundant and obvious. But on the other occasions, It'll be a sacrifice of praise. Because thanking Him will be the last thing you feel like doing. And all so many times we live by our feelings, don't we? It's just so easy. I don't feel like giving thanks. Well, that's when you really need to. Because I know it's not easy. But I can assure you that that's the best option. Because if you'll focus on the Lord with a heart of gratitude, your anxiety and fretting will be replaced with trust, and you'll experience Christ's peace and joy, which is beyond all human understanding. And at that point, the unsaved will say, wow, how does she do that? How does he do that? And it's when they're asking questions. that they turn to you, because they can't do that, and they desperately want to be able to do that. See, your attitude is your mind's paintbrush. It colors any situation. I'll say that again. Your attitude is your mind's paintbrush. It colors any situation. I was reading a prayer that Roy Sims, a Confederate soldier during the Civil War, wrote, scribbled it on a little piece of paper, and this is what he said, I ask God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. Well, I ask for help that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I ask for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life. I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything that I hoped for. Despite myself, my prayers were answered. I am among all men, most richly blessed." And when we begin to ask God to give us His perspective, His insight, His view of my life." Our entire attitude changes. I read of a man who lived with his six children in the suburbs of Philadelphia just before school was about to start. All of his children were in need of new shoes. At the same time, their washing machine played out and topped all of it off. Because of bad weather, his work had been reduced. He was able to manage the shoes, but finally ran an ad for a used washing machine. He answered a call concerning a used washing machine, and the home was filled with all the comforts anyone could ever want. So after arranging to pick up the old washer, the conversation got around to children. Claude Powell commented on the problems of feeding and clothing six children. The woman of the home ran out of the room crying. In explaining, the father observed that they had one child who had been paralyzed from birth. He had never needed a pair of shoes. Claude Powell went home and said, When I got home, I picked up the worn-out shoes, worn out from skipping rope and kicking rocks and jumping puddles, and I went off to be by myself. Kneeling by my bed, I gave thanks to God for the worn-out shoes in our house. See, how many of your gripes in your life should be means of giving thanks to the Lord? Because so many times our perspective is so materialistic, it's so self-centered, so selfish. But if we begin to really recognize what God's Word says about giving thanks, our whole attitude will change. It won't just be a Thanksgiving day. It'll be a Thanksgiving week, Thanksgiving month, Thanksgiving year. What does God's Word say about specific reasons to give thanks? Let me quickly share a few. Romans 6, verses 17 and 18, but thanks be to God. Though you used to be slaves to sin, you were wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You've been set free from sin and become slaves to righteousness. Thanking God for salvation. Or 1 Corinthians 1557, thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanking God for the victory over the old nature, that we don't have to be in bondage anymore, don't have to be slaves. Or for His goodness, 1 Chronicles 16, 34 and 35, give thanks to the Lord for His good. His love endures forever. Cry out, save us, O God our Savior. Gather us and deliver us from the nations. that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glorify you in praise for His goodness. How about for His love? Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever. Psalm 118.1. You see, God's love will never change regardless of what you're going through. His love is unchanging. thanking God for His protection. 2 Samuel 22, 49 says, "...who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes, from violent men you rescued me for protection." For His faithfulness, Isaiah 25, 1, "...O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago." How about for His righteousness that He gives us? Psalm 119.7, I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. First Provisions. 1 Timothy 4, 4-5, For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is to be received at Thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God in prayer. That's why we say grace before we eat. And sometimes people forget to do that in public. I hope you don't. I hope bowing your head is a testimony of your gratitude for what you're about to partake. Or it may be for his healing. James 5.15, and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise him up. If he sinned, he will be forgiven. For friends. Philippians 1.3, I thank my God every time I remember you, the Apostle Paul said of the Philippian church. Do you thank God for friends very often? Or how about for wisdom and power? Daniel 2.23, I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers. You've given me wisdom and power. You've made me to know what we ask of you. You've made known to us the dream of the king. See, the Bible says in James, if any man like wisdom, let him ask of God. Then after you get that wisdom, you can thank God for answered prayer. answered prayer. Jesus, remember, looked up in John 11 when his good friend had been buried already four days ago. And Jesus said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me. And we also can give praise to God, because He answers prayer, for the preciousness of His presence. Psalm 75, verse 1, We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your name is near. Men tell of your wonderful deeds. Do you think much of His presence? Oh, you think of His provisions, and His protection, and His promises. But how about His presence? That's why in Proverbs 3, 5, and 6, it says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him. Acknowledge that He's there. And in every decision, every temptation, we turn to Him and we acknowledge Him. Lord, what about this? Lord, what about that? We acknowledge that He's present. And we praise God for the preciousness of His presence. Do you thank God for no matter what? Sometimes that's the way it is, you know? Maybe I'm in need and nothing happens, and so God wants to teach me to be content with what's happening, or what I have. See, somebody said, if I'm not content with what I have, I'll never be content with what I want. To be content for no matter what. Or Ephesians 5.20 says, for everything. Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So after we consider some of God's great gifts to us, there should be little doubt about why we should give thanks. Our great God is a gracious, giving God. And whatever we have and whatever we experience is because of His love, mercy, grace, and goodness. And I trust that this Thanksgiving season will be more than a day, more than a meal, but it will be the beginning of a change of attitude, a change of perspective. Come join us at Brookside Baptist. If you don't have a church you faithfully attend, we'd love to have you. Until next time, may the Lord bless you in a fantastic way. We hope you enjoyed today's broadcast. If you would like a copy of today's program, have a question we can answer, please contact us at The Word for Life, 4470 North Pilgrim Road, Brookfield, Wisconsin, 53005. For more info about The Word for Life, to make a donation to help us continue this broadcast, as well as other resources for your Christian walk, Visit us at www.thewordforlife.org. Thanks for listening today. Tune in again next time as we bring the Word of God to your life.