DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS:

MONDAY - VERSES: Rom. 1:8; 1 Cor. 1:4; Php. 1:3; 1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Thes. 1:3; 2 Tim. 1:3; Phile. 1:4 PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank the Father for the rest of your Christian family. Pray for them by name. Call and let someone know that you are thanking God for them and encourage them to do the same and to practice being thankful.

TUESDAY - VERSES: Matthew 15:36;26:27; Mark 8:6; 14:23; Luke 22:17, 19; John 6:11,23; Acts 27:33-35 PRAYER THOUGHT: Be sure to give thanks for your food, but don't forget about all of the other physical blessings that God has given you. We live in the most blessed land in the history of the world. Even the poorest here are more wealthy than most of the rest of the world.

WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Luke 7:36-50 PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank the Lord for the forgiveness of your sins past and present as well as the fact that you can have forgiveness in the future as well.

THURSDAY - VERSES: Psalm 103:1-22 PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank God for all of the benefits listed in this Psalm as well as other spiritual benefits that we have in Christ.

FRIDAY - VERSES: Luke 17:11-19 PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank God for those things that are obvious. Sometimes God has blessed us and it is so obvious we overlook it. Take a few moments to be thankful for things you have taken for granted recently.

SATURDAY - VERSES: Matthew 18:21-35 PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank our King for forgiving your debts and for the ability to forgive others of their debts to you. Be thankful that forgiveness can be given and received because of God's wise plan.

CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

1. At least once a day read this material and read or sing the song.

2. Place the scripture page in a prominent place where you will see it

each day and keep the card with you so you will see it often.

3. Find things you can be thankful for throughout each day.

4. Pray for God's help in seeing things for which to be thankful.

5. At the close of each day write down the things for which you were

thankful that day.

6. Plan to tell the class, next week, either how you practiced being thankful and the result, or tell the class how you should have been thankful but were not and the result.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 1

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

SCRIPTURE - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

COMMENT - No matter what the situation in life there is always something for which we can be thankful. While we may not always see the blessings in our current situation, we have to believe that it is God's will for us to be thankful and look for the good that can come from every situation. Not every situation is good, but good can result.

SONG - STRENGTH THROUGH ADVERSITY

copyright 1976 by Barry and Paul Epps. Author of stanzas 1&2

unknown, 3 by Paul Epps in Church Gospel Songs and Hymns

For all the heartaches and the tears,

For all the anguish and the pain;

For gloomy days and fruitless years,

And for the hopes I've lived in vain.

For ev'ry hill I've had to climb,

For ev'ry stone that bruised my feet;

For all the blood and sweat and grime,

For blinding storms and burning heat.

I thank Thee, Lord, for all the years,

For ev'ry burden of the day;

For all the heartaches and the fears,

That I have known along the way.

Chorus: My heart sings a grateful song,

These were the things that made me strong;

I do give thanks, for now I know,

These were the things that made me grow.

IN EVERYTHING GIVE ______________

INTRODUCTION

I. God Expects Us to Be ________________.

A. Romans 1:18, 21

B. 2 Corinthians 4:15

C. Ephesians 5:3-4

D. Ephesians 5:20

E. Philippians 4:6

F. Colossians 2:6-7

G. Colossians 3:17

H. Colossians 4:2

I. Hebrews 13:15

II. God ____________ Against Grumbling and Complaining.

A. 1 Corinthians 10:6, 10

B. Galatians 5:15

C. Philippians 2:14-15

D. James 5:9

E. 1 Peter 4:9

F. Jude 1:16

III. Things To Be Thankful for According to the _____________.

A. God's Goodness - Psalm 106:1

B. God's Mercy - Psalm 136:1-3

C. God's Supplying Our Needs - Romans 14:6-7

D. Our Fellowship - Acts 28:15

E. Our Salvation - Romans 7:24-25

F. Those in Authority - 1 Timothy 2:1-2

IV. More To Be Thankful for in Our __________.

A. Family

B. Country

C. Health

D. Material Blessings

E. Mental Abilities

F. Friends

G. Nature, Beauty, Our Planet

CONCLUSION

A. Are You a Thankful Person or a Grumbler?

B. Are You Thankful to God? Do You Want to Please Him?

THOUGHTS

He who is thankful for a little, enjoys much; but he who is thankful for little, enjoys little.

OOOOO

If you can't be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped.

OOOOO

Bible commentator Matthew Henry, after being robbed, wrote in his diary the following: "let me be thankful. First because I was never robbed before. Second, because although they took my wallet, they did not take my life. Third, because although they took my all, it was not much. Fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed.

OOOOO

When will we stop looking at the glass as half-empty or half-full, and realize that it is all full.

OOOOO

There was a preacher who was well-known for praying when he got up to preach and always having something to thank God for regardless of the circumstances. One terribly stormy Sunday morning a member of the congregation was sure the preacher would have nothing to be thankful for on such a wretched day, but was disappointed. The preacher got up and began his prayer, "We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this."

OOOOO

The attitude of gratitude will lift you from a flat latitude to a soaring altitude.

OOOOO

O Thou whose bounty fills my cup, With every blessing meet!

I give Thee thanks for every drop - The bitter and the sweet.

I praise Thee for the desert road, And for the riverside;

For all Thy goodness hath bestowed, And all Thy grace denied.

I thank Thee for both smile and frown, And for the gain and loss;

I praise Thee for the future crown And for the present cross.

I thank Thee for both wings of love Which stirred my worldly nest;

And for the stormy clouds which drove Me, trembling, to Thy breast.

I bless Thee for the glad increase, And for the waning joy;

And for this strange, this unsettled peace Which nothing can destroy.

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

SCRIPTURE - (1 Th 5:15-18) See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. {16} Rejoice always, {17} pray without ceasing, {18} in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

INTRODUCTION

A. APPRECIATION OR GRUMBLING & COMPLAINING

B. POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE

C. OPTIMIST OR PESSIMISTIC

D. EMPHASIS ON GOOD OR BAD

I. GOD EXPECTS US TO BE THANKFUL

A. Rom 1:18, 21 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and

unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,... .because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

B. 2 Cor 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

C. Eph 5:3-4 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; (4) neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

D. Eph 5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

E. Phil 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

F. Col 2:6-7 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (7) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

G. Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

H. Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.

I. 1 Th 5:18 in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

J. Heb 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

II. GOD WARNS AGAINST GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING

A. 1 Cor 10:6, 10 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.... nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

B. Gal 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

C. Phil 2:14-15 Do all things without complaining and disputing, (15) that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

D. James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

E. 1 Pet 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

F. Jude 1:16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.

III. THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE

A. GOD'S GOODNESS - (Psa 106:1) Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

B. GOD'S MERCY - (Psa 136:1-3) Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. {2} Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. {3} Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever:

C. GOD'S SUPPLYING OUR NEEDS - (Rom 14:6-7) He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. {7} For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

D. OUR FELLOWSHIP - (Acts 28:15) And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

E. OUR SALVATION - (Rom 7:24-25) O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? {25} I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

F. IN ALL SITUATIONS - (1 Th 5:18) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

G. THOSE IN AUTHORITY - (1 Tim 2:1-2) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, {2} for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

IV. MORE TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN OUR LIVES

A. FAMILY

B. COUNTRY

C. HEALTH

D. MATERIAL BLESSINGS

E. MENTAL ABILITIES

F. FRIENDS

G. THE WORLD, NATURE, BEAUTY

CONCLUSION

A. ARE YOU A THANKFUL PERSON OR A GRUMBLER

B. DO YOU LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN EVERYTHING OR DO YOU TEND TO SEE THE BAD FIRST.

C. GOD WANTS US TO BE THANKFUL IN EVERY SITUATION OF LIFE NO MATTER HOW BAD IT IS.

D. THANKFULNESS MAKES US MORE KIND, PATIENT, UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATIVE OF OTHERS AND HELPS US WANT TO PLEASE THEM MORE.

E. ARE YOU THANKFUL TO GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS TO YOU? DO YOU WANT TO PLEASE HIM?