Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:00.96\00:00:02.03 Please join us today on Pressing in to His Presence 00:00:02.06\00:00:05.40 as we learn the value 00:00:05.43\00:00:07.37 of starting our prayers with thanksgiving. 00:00:07.40\00:00:10.41 Welcome to Pressing in to His Presence. 00:00:32.43\00:00:34.66 Today, we are going to learn the value 00:00:34.73\00:00:37.57 of starting our prayer with thanksgiving 00:00:37.60\00:00:40.47 and why this is such a vital thing. 00:00:40.50\00:00:43.87 If you have been following along 00:00:43.91\00:00:46.07 in your program companion book 00:00:46.11\00:00:48.34 "Pressing in to His Presence" 00:00:48.38\00:00:50.31 we're beginning on chapter three today. 00:00:50.35\00:00:53.95 Now, on previous programs 00:00:53.98\00:00:56.15 I have shared how God impressed me 00:00:56.18\00:00:58.99 to spend an hour with Him each day in prayer 00:00:59.02\00:01:02.22 to overcome backsliding. 00:01:02.26\00:01:04.66 But what God taught me 00:01:04.69\00:01:06.73 I'm going to be sharing with you 00:01:06.76\00:01:09.13 and it is just as valuable for a shorter prayer. 00:01:09.16\00:01:12.93 So don't think that it has to be an hour long prayer. 00:01:12.97\00:01:16.81 And although its not necessary to write out our prayers 00:01:16.84\00:01:21.08 I was trying this process which is called journaling 00:01:21.11\00:01:24.31 and on that first morning 00:01:24.35\00:01:26.48 I-- that I was trying to pray the first time 00:01:26.51\00:01:29.78 for an hour journaling 00:01:29.82\00:01:31.55 I typed the date at the top of my page 00:01:31.59\00:01:36.36 and stared my computer screen. 00:01:36.39\00:01:39.53 That blank white screen glared back at me 00:01:39.56\00:01:42.43 and it was intimidating. 00:01:42.46\00:01:44.63 So I prayed Father, where do I begin? 00:01:44.67\00:01:48.17 Teach me how to pray. 00:01:48.20\00:01:49.87 Teach me how to press into Your presence. 00:01:49.90\00:01:53.78 And the verse that came to my mind 00:01:53.81\00:01:56.14 was Psalms 100:4, 5 and there Bible says 00:01:56.18\00:02:02.48 "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving 00:02:02.52\00:02:06.12 and into his courts with praise. 00:02:06.15\00:02:08.76 Be thankful to him and bless his name." 00:02:08.79\00:02:13.60 That was the answer. 00:02:13.63\00:02:15.10 I was to begin my prayer with praise and that's what 00:02:15.13\00:02:19.37 we are going to be discussing today. 00:02:19.40\00:02:21.70 But first let's consider God's plan to have a people 00:02:21.74\00:02:26.04 who are a royal priesthood. 00:02:26.07\00:02:28.28 The Old Testament reveals that before God established Aaron 00:02:28.31\00:02:32.65 and his descendents along with the tribe of Levi 00:02:32.68\00:02:37.19 before He established them 00:02:37.22\00:02:38.95 to carryout the duties of the priesthood 00:02:38.99\00:02:41.42 God had called all of His people 00:02:41.46\00:02:44.36 to be a kingdom of priest. 00:02:44.39\00:02:46.33 The setting was the wilderness of Sinai 00:02:46.36\00:02:49.30 where the Israelites were encamped before the mountain. 00:02:49.33\00:02:52.47 And God instructed Moses to tell the people 00:02:52.50\00:02:56.04 in Exodus 19:4-6 these words. 00:02:56.07\00:03:01.84 "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, 00:03:01.88\00:03:05.55 and how I bore you on eagles' wings 00:03:05.58\00:03:08.45 and brought you to Myself." 00:03:08.48\00:03:10.79 Can you hear the language of love 00:03:10.82\00:03:13.89 God is bringing His people to Himself 00:03:13.92\00:03:16.79 delivering them out of Egypt? 00:03:16.83\00:03:19.16 Bearing them up like on eagles' wings. 00:03:19.19\00:03:22.30 And He says "Now therefore, 00:03:22.33\00:03:24.87 if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, 00:03:24.90\00:03:28.97 then you shall be a special treasure to Me 00:03:29.00\00:03:31.44 above all people for all the earth is Mine. 00:03:31.47\00:03:35.28 And you shall be to Me 00:03:35.31\00:03:38.28 a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." 00:03:38.31\00:03:44.69 Well, we know they didn't obey. 00:03:44.72\00:03:48.89 Although the Israelites of all 00:03:48.92\00:03:50.53 do not follow God's original plan 00:03:50.56\00:03:53.50 the same call is issued for God's New Testament people 00:03:53.53\00:03:58.07 under the lordship of our Savior Jesus Christ. 00:03:58.10\00:04:01.97 We are called to fulfill this role 00:04:02.00\00:04:04.64 of being a kingdom of priest. 00:04:04.67\00:04:06.94 1 Peter 2:9 say-- 00:04:06.98\00:04:12.11 if I can find it here says this. 00:04:12.15\00:04:15.72 "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 00:04:15.75\00:04:21.62 a holy nation, His own special people, 00:04:21.66\00:04:25.46 that you may proclaim the praises of Him 00:04:25.49\00:04:28.63 who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, 00:04:28.66\00:04:33.47 you who once were not a people but are now the people of God, 00:04:33.50\00:04:39.71 who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." 00:04:39.74\00:04:45.95 Do you see that Christians are a royal priesthood, 00:04:45.98\00:04:51.32 a fellowship of priests who are to come boldly 00:04:51.35\00:04:55.12 into God's presence through the new and living way 00:04:55.16\00:04:59.19 open for us by the blood of Jesus? 00:04:59.23\00:05:02.86 You know, as ancient priest entered into the courtyards 00:05:02.90\00:05:09.34 they had to enter into God's presence in a specific order. 00:05:09.37\00:05:13.27 First they entered through a gate 00:05:13.31\00:05:15.48 and when they did 00:05:15.51\00:05:16.98 they were doing this to reach the outer court 00:05:17.01\00:05:19.28 they walked through with thanksgiving. 00:05:19.31\00:05:22.02 I thought about this that first morning 00:05:22.05\00:05:23.89 as I was preparing to journal my first prayer 00:05:23.92\00:05:27.32 and as I did I pictured the heavenly temple 00:05:27.36\00:05:31.39 described by the apostle John in Revelation 11:19. 00:05:31.43\00:05:36.36 It says there, then the temple of God was opened in heaven 00:05:36.40\00:05:42.10 and the Ark of His Covenant was seen in the temple. 00:05:42.14\00:05:46.54 The priests of old drew near to the Lord 00:05:46.57\00:05:50.01 in the earthly sanctuary. 00:05:50.05\00:05:51.98 Now I was preparing to draw near to Him 00:05:52.01\00:05:55.05 in His heavenly sanctuary. 00:05:55.08\00:05:57.35 God was leading me press into His presence 00:05:57.39\00:06:00.99 through the heavenly portal of thanksgiving. 00:06:01.02\00:06:03.89 This would be the first portion of my prayer 00:06:03.93\00:06:06.83 and would be followed by praise. 00:06:06.86\00:06:08.93 Now, since thanksgiving is a form of praise 00:06:08.96\00:06:12.67 I just combine thanksgiving and praise 00:06:12.70\00:06:15.17 under the one label of praise. 00:06:15.20\00:06:18.61 So what is thanksgiving? 00:06:18.64\00:06:21.18 Why should we begin our prayer in this way? 00:06:21.21\00:06:25.01 Thanksgiving is a joyful expression of gratitude to God 00:06:25.05\00:06:30.09 for His goodness toward us, recognizing Him as the giver 00:06:30.12\00:06:34.39 of every good and perfect gift. 00:06:34.42\00:06:37.63 God wants us to recognize, appreciate 00:06:37.66\00:06:41.46 and acknowledge His goodness 00:06:41.50\00:06:43.47 so that we may proclaim all of His wondrous works 00:06:43.50\00:06:46.94 with a voice of thanksgiving. 00:06:46.97\00:06:48.97 Why? 00:06:49.00\00:06:50.04 Why does God want us to give Him thanks? 00:06:50.07\00:06:53.27 It took me some time to realize how faith building this is. 00:06:53.31\00:06:58.51 God prescribed the practice of thanksgiving 00:06:58.55\00:07:01.72 to open our hearts like receptacles 00:07:01.75\00:07:04.69 and to be open vessels ready to be filled 00:07:04.72\00:07:09.19 with a greater measure of trust and faith. 00:07:09.22\00:07:12.53 Let me illustrate this with a story. 00:07:12.56\00:07:15.33 The Sunday morning after my 2004 car accident 00:07:15.36\00:07:20.14 the problems I confronted set me up 00:07:20.17\00:07:22.77 as the perfect candidate for complaining. 00:07:22.80\00:07:26.11 Just 24 hours earlier I had that typical ration of troubles 00:07:26.14\00:07:29.94 that accompany more to life 00:07:29.98\00:07:31.88 but good health had made it easier to give thanks. 00:07:31.91\00:07:36.35 My pastor was out of town so I had been scheduled 00:07:36.38\00:07:40.56 that Saturday to present two church services 00:07:40.59\00:07:43.76 in two different towns, my home church 00:07:43.79\00:07:46.13 and then another church that was 30 miles away. 00:07:46.16\00:07:49.36 One service began at 9:30 am and the other at 11 am. 00:07:49.40\00:07:54.30 So when I concluded the first service 00:07:54.34\00:07:56.34 I departed for the next without delay. 00:07:56.37\00:07:59.27 And traveling down a four lane 00:07:59.31\00:08:01.31 divided highway driving southbound 00:08:01.34\00:08:03.91 at the speed limit of 70 miles an hour 00:08:03.95\00:08:06.72 I saw a white van 00:08:06.75\00:08:08.42 who pulled out from a dirt road. 00:08:08.45\00:08:10.79 He crossed the northbound lines 00:08:10.82\00:08:13.02 and then he came into the median and he stopped. 00:08:13.05\00:08:15.92 He appeared to be looking my way so I didn't slow down. 00:08:15.96\00:08:19.69 I was in the outside lane 00:08:19.73\00:08:21.70 but just as I approached his location 00:08:21.73\00:08:25.00 he soared across the first southbound land 00:08:25.03\00:08:28.54 and into the second outer lane 00:08:28.57\00:08:30.71 just about 12 feet directly in front of me. 00:08:30.74\00:08:34.34 There was no time to hit the brakes 00:08:34.38\00:08:36.58 and that wouldn't have prevented the collusion anyway. 00:08:36.61\00:08:39.51 I knew that I broadsided that van someone would die. 00:08:39.55\00:08:44.82 So instinctively I yank the steering wheel 00:08:44.85\00:08:47.96 sharply to the right and then I saw 00:08:47.99\00:08:51.16 there was a deep, deep dirt ditch 00:08:51.19\00:08:54.10 that ran parallel to the road. 00:08:54.10\00:08:56.00 But I was careening directly toward a concrete culvert 00:08:56.03\00:09:00.10 which had two steel rods just judging out from its center. 00:09:00.14\00:09:04.51 And I cried out and I said, Lord, save me. 00:09:04.54\00:09:07.91 But that's the only words of prayer 00:09:07.94\00:09:09.94 that time would permit. 00:09:09.98\00:09:11.95 And honestly details from that moment 00:09:11.98\00:09:15.08 are a little bit blurry but my SUV I know slammed 00:09:15.12\00:09:21.36 nose down into the dirt ditch missing the concrete culvert 00:09:21.39\00:09:26.26 and I went from 70 miles to 0 on impact. 00:09:26.29\00:09:30.13 So contents from the back 00:09:30.17\00:09:32.03 catapulted to their front floorboard 00:09:32.07\00:09:34.70 brick is shaking like a bullet 00:09:34.74\00:09:36.10 my SUV lurched into the air, made a quarter turn 00:09:36.14\00:09:40.11 and bounced violently to its landing. 00:09:40.14\00:09:43.41 I momentarily lost consciousness 00:09:43.45\00:09:45.78 and when I open my eyes I was surprised to see 00:09:45.81\00:09:48.88 that I was actually straddling this V shaped ditch. 00:09:48.92\00:09:53.25 I shut at the door repeatedly 00:09:53.29\00:09:56.19 against the earth and side of the ditch 00:09:56.22\00:09:58.63 and I managed to open it just a crack, 00:09:58.66\00:10:01.66 just enough to squeeze through. 00:10:01.70\00:10:04.10 So stumbling upward to the weeds 00:10:04.13\00:10:06.57 I saw the white van he had pulled off 00:10:06.60\00:10:08.54 to the side of the road 00:10:08.57\00:10:09.94 just a couple of hundred yards at the highway. 00:10:09.97\00:10:12.74 But when the driver spotted my head coming up 00:10:12.77\00:10:16.11 he hopped into his van and sped off. 00:10:16.14\00:10:19.05 So there I was dazed and I saw a couple of cars pass by 00:10:19.08\00:10:23.59 and I was desperately 00:10:23.62\00:10:24.72 trying to wave them down but apparently 00:10:24.75\00:10:27.49 they weren't able to see me down in the ditch. 00:10:27.52\00:10:30.39 I couldn't find my cell phone to call for help 00:10:30.43\00:10:33.80 so I noticed that ditch actually 00:10:33.83\00:10:37.57 became shallower as it went further south. 00:10:37.60\00:10:40.97 That appeared to my best option 00:10:41.00\00:10:42.97 was just to try to maneuver my vehicle 00:10:43.00\00:10:45.04 out of its landing place. 00:10:45.07\00:10:46.81 So with the car straddling the sloping sides 00:10:46.84\00:10:49.78 I cautiously drove a quarter of a mile onto the ground 00:10:49.81\00:10:53.01 graduated in elevation enough to allow me 00:10:53.05\00:10:56.08 to actually return to the highway. 00:10:56.12\00:10:58.32 And unaware of how seriously 00:10:58.35\00:11:00.39 I had been injured I reached the second church 00:11:00.42\00:11:03.69 as the song service was finishing 00:11:03.73\00:11:05.53 and I delivered the message God had given me 00:11:05.56\00:11:08.56 but boy, now on the morning after 00:11:08.60\00:11:12.40 I knew my injures were significant. 00:11:12.43\00:11:15.30 Throbbing pain had robbed me 00:11:15.34\00:11:17.07 of even a wink of sleep all night 00:11:17.11\00:11:19.74 and my neck seemed hot and swollen 00:11:19.77\00:11:22.81 and I couldn't turn my head. 00:11:22.84\00:11:24.58 The slightest moment of my arms 00:11:24.61\00:11:26.98 caused nerve pain that just shot 00:11:27.02\00:11:29.48 from the base of my neck through my fingertips. 00:11:29.52\00:11:32.45 And my fingers were jammed 00:11:32.49\00:11:34.02 and swollen twice the normal size 00:11:34.06\00:11:36.19 and they were throbbing. 00:11:36.22\00:11:37.66 And I had a torn ligament in my shoulder 00:11:37.69\00:11:42.10 and it mimic a knife just being thrust 00:11:42.13\00:11:44.63 through the shoulder blade. 00:11:44.67\00:11:46.17 My feet bottoms were bruised, 00:11:46.20\00:11:48.17 I had an egg size bump on my forehead 00:11:48.20\00:11:50.81 and that explain my headache. 00:11:50.84\00:11:53.07 There is one thing I knew 00:11:53.11\00:11:54.71 I wouldn't be writing my prayer this day. 00:11:54.74\00:11:58.75 You know, I could have murmured against the Lord. 00:11:58.78\00:12:02.98 Wasn't I working in His harvest fields 00:12:03.02\00:12:05.89 when it happened? 00:12:05.92\00:12:07.09 Hadn't I prayed for traveling mercies? 00:12:07.12\00:12:10.26 Why would He allow such a tragic accident to happen? 00:12:10.29\00:12:14.36 My husband JD was out of town and I was home all alone 00:12:14.40\00:12:18.97 and I was parched and thirsty 00:12:19.00\00:12:20.74 and I couldn't even get out of bed for a glass of water. 00:12:20.77\00:12:24.54 In my mind I tried to calculate 00:12:24.57\00:12:26.91 how on earth we'll repay for the medical costs 00:12:26.94\00:12:30.05 that are sure to come. 00:12:30.08\00:12:31.88 I knew that benefits from our auto policy 00:12:31.91\00:12:35.38 would be questionable. 00:12:35.42\00:12:36.92 There had been no collusion, no police report 00:12:36.95\00:12:40.52 and no witnesses to step forth. 00:12:40.56\00:12:43.26 Now, on our health insurance policy 00:12:43.29\00:12:45.33 we carried a $5,000 purposed deductible 00:12:45.36\00:12:48.76 that was gonna be a big hit to our pocket 00:12:48.80\00:12:52.40 and actually neither policy seemed too promising 00:12:52.43\00:12:55.64 to help us out of the situation. 00:12:55.67\00:12:58.17 And I realized it could result in massy medical expenses 00:12:58.21\00:13:02.11 at a time that we could ill afford it. 00:13:02.14\00:13:05.68 Perhaps, I would have murmured had I know than 00:13:05.71\00:13:09.15 that it was gonna ultimately cost us $18,000 out of pocket 00:13:09.18\00:13:13.79 because our health provider insisted 00:13:13.82\00:13:16.09 the auto insurer should pay 00:13:16.12\00:13:18.43 and auto insurance it sought otherwise. 00:13:18.46\00:13:23.00 So neither one paid but the point is 00:13:23.03\00:13:26.90 I didn't murmur and in that's no glory to me. 00:13:26.94\00:13:31.07 God had so changed my heart 00:13:31.11\00:13:34.08 through the practice of thanksgiving 00:13:34.11\00:13:36.51 that I sensed His blessing in every situation. 00:13:36.54\00:13:41.28 He had filled my heart with trust and faith 00:13:41.32\00:13:44.85 through the experience of acknowledging His goodness. 00:13:44.89\00:13:50.59 So instead of murmuring I prayed thank you, Father, 00:13:50.63\00:13:54.46 that I didn't collided with that van 00:13:54.46\00:13:56.36 and killed someone. 00:13:56.40\00:13:58.03 Thank you Father, for saving my life. 00:13:58.07\00:14:00.67 Thank You for sending angels to carry me 00:14:00.70\00:14:04.31 beyond that concrete culvert. 00:14:04.34\00:14:06.74 Had I hit it I would probably had died. 00:14:06.78\00:14:09.81 Oh, I said Father, I'm so thankful 00:14:09.84\00:14:11.81 that the impact was in the dirt ditch. 00:14:11.85\00:14:14.55 Thank You for preventing my SUV from rolling over. 00:14:14.58\00:14:18.19 Thank You that I wasn't injured by the tools 00:14:18.22\00:14:22.79 or impaled by the T posts. 00:14:22.82\00:14:25.36 We had fenced T post in the back. 00:14:25.39\00:14:27.86 And I said oh, Lord, 00:14:27.86\00:14:28.90 I praise You for your protection. 00:14:28.93\00:14:32.27 Thank You that I can still walk. 00:14:32.30\00:14:35.54 Thank You for blessing me. 00:14:35.57\00:14:37.47 With so many other blessings I give thanks for I know 00:14:37.51\00:14:41.84 You will work this out for my good. 00:14:41.88\00:14:44.38 You have a plan for my life, hallelujah. 00:14:44.41\00:14:49.82 So here I was the following morning Monday 00:14:49.85\00:14:54.52 and I woke to a severe post concussion syndrome 00:14:54.56\00:14:59.39 and uncontrollably raising thoughts. 00:14:59.43\00:15:02.76 They seem true although they weren't. 00:15:02.80\00:15:05.17 Eventually I learned that 00:15:05.20\00:15:06.77 I had cracked the access of my spine right here 00:15:06.80\00:15:09.97 where your head sits on your spine 00:15:10.01\00:15:12.14 and I had two badly bulging discs in my neck. 00:15:12.17\00:15:15.08 So surgery to repair the damage 00:15:15.11\00:15:17.48 would have left my head with no range of motion. 00:15:17.51\00:15:20.95 I would have been turning like this. 00:15:20.98\00:15:23.99 So for the next-- they wanted to operate but I told them no. 00:15:24.02\00:15:29.39 So for the next 42 months constant pain was my companion 00:15:29.42\00:15:34.93 yet I rarely murmured about my condition 00:15:34.93\00:15:38.00 and again that's no glory to me. 00:15:38.03\00:15:41.30 Because I was tempted to murmur 00:15:41.34\00:15:43.47 but when I was tempted the Holy Spirit reminded me 00:15:43.51\00:15:47.21 to continue thanking God 00:15:47.24\00:15:49.48 for His mighty hand of protection. 00:15:49.51\00:15:52.85 Here is our wake up call. 00:15:52.88\00:15:55.18 If we murmur and complain against our circumstances 00:15:55.22\00:16:00.42 we are actually murmuring and complaining against God 00:16:00.46\00:16:05.69 and forgetting all of His benefits. 00:16:05.73\00:16:08.73 In Psalm 103:2-4 this is what King David wrote. 00:16:08.76\00:16:15.24 He said, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, 00:16:15.27\00:16:19.64 and forget not all His benefits 00:16:19.67\00:16:23.45 who forgives all your iniquities," 00:16:23.48\00:16:26.38 and boy, that's enough for thanksgiving right there 00:16:26.41\00:16:28.72 if we didn't go any further. 00:16:28.75\00:16:31.49 "Who heals all your diseases, 00:16:31.52\00:16:34.39 who redeems your life from destruction, 00:16:34.42\00:16:38.79 who crowns you with loving-kindness 00:16:38.83\00:16:41.76 and tender mercies." 00:16:41.80\00:16:44.17 You know, that Bible passage was my constant prayer. 00:16:44.20\00:16:49.47 Thanksgiving had made my heart like an open receptacle 00:16:49.50\00:16:54.54 into which God could pour out His blessings. 00:16:54.58\00:16:58.31 And one morning three and half years 00:16:58.35\00:17:00.48 after my accident 00:17:00.52\00:17:02.18 there was a stunning reversal of my situation. 00:17:02.22\00:17:05.72 I woke up and the pain was gone, completely gone. 00:17:05.75\00:17:09.62 I had trusted in God's goodness 00:17:09.66\00:17:11.93 and He and His delight of mercy removed my torment. 00:17:11.96\00:17:17.03 It's never returned. 00:17:17.07\00:17:18.63 So I agree with what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. 00:17:18.67\00:17:23.14 He said in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. 00:17:23.17\00:17:28.51 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, 00:17:28.54\00:17:33.35 in everything give thanks 00:17:33.38\00:17:36.62 for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 00:17:36.65\00:17:41.66 And then David said in Psalm 95:2, 00:17:41.69\00:17:46.53 "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. 00:17:46.56\00:17:51.73 Let us shout joyfully to Him with Psalms." 00:17:51.77\00:17:57.41 It isn't easy to give thanks 00:17:57.44\00:17:59.21 in everything as Paul had many issues to do. 00:17:59.24\00:18:01.48 It's not easy but it is their beauty. 00:18:01.51\00:18:04.41 You may have heard the story of the man who was complaining 00:18:04.45\00:18:08.18 because he had no shoes until the day 00:18:08.22\00:18:09.95 he saw a man who had no feet. 00:18:09.98\00:18:12.22 In every situation 00:18:12.25\00:18:13.99 you and I have something more for which to be thankful 00:18:14.02\00:18:17.56 than does about 90 percent of the world's population. 00:18:17.59\00:18:21.10 You know, I have a long standing friendship 00:18:21.13\00:18:22.83 with a dear sister in Christ 00:18:22.86\00:18:24.57 whom I've never met but we Skype weekly 00:18:24.60\00:18:28.00 and she watch 3ABN for years to improve her English. 00:18:28.04\00:18:32.97 And so a number of years ago this resulted in her conversion 00:18:33.01\00:18:36.68 from the Muslim religion she lost her prestigious job, 00:18:36.71\00:18:40.55 she lost-- she suffered abuse from here husband. 00:18:40.58\00:18:44.15 He eventually divorced her and unfortunately 00:18:44.19\00:18:46.65 he got custody of their children. 00:18:46.69\00:18:48.72 But through it all she learned the lesson 00:18:48.76\00:18:51.36 that you and I need to, she keeps her heart open 00:18:51.39\00:18:55.06 before the Lord through thanksgiving. 00:18:55.10\00:18:57.20 She recognizes and acknowledges God's goodness 00:18:57.23\00:19:00.97 and therefore she approaches her loving heavenly Father 00:19:01.00\00:19:04.57 with a heart filled with expectation. 00:19:04.61\00:19:07.21 And God daily gives her evidences of His love 00:19:07.24\00:19:11.21 and presence in here life. 00:19:11.25\00:19:13.15 This trusting daughter is just like Job. 00:19:13.18\00:19:17.52 She is saying though he slave me 00:19:17.55\00:19:21.99 yet will I trust Him. 00:19:22.02\00:19:25.89 Her faith serves as a spiritual telescope that 00:19:25.93\00:19:29.23 lets her look ahead to a better day 00:19:29.26\00:19:31.90 and such faith inspires me. 00:19:31.93\00:19:34.77 Thanksgiving is a faith builder. 00:19:34.80\00:19:36.91 It takes our eyes off self 00:19:36.94\00:19:38.51 and puts them-- our vision on the Lord. 00:19:38.54\00:19:41.24 And as we contemplate His love for us it awakens our awe. 00:19:41.28\00:19:45.81 The act of thanksgiving alters our attitudes, 00:19:45.85\00:19:48.35 it prevents the poor pitiful me party. 00:19:48.38\00:19:51.32 Are you in emotional turmoil right now? 00:19:51.35\00:19:53.62 This is how concepts seem pouring to your mind. 00:19:53.66\00:19:56.42 I understand because I have shared 00:19:56.46\00:19:58.39 your feelings in the past. 00:19:58.43\00:20:00.26 Have you lost a loved one, 00:20:00.30\00:20:01.90 it is difficult to discover reasons for thanksgiving 00:20:01.93\00:20:05.20 when your heart is gripped with grief. 00:20:05.23\00:20:08.00 But consider thanking God for being capable of loving 00:20:08.04\00:20:11.54 which means, you're capable of grieving, 00:20:11.57\00:20:14.71 you're capable of loving consider thanking Him 00:20:14.74\00:20:17.58 for the time shared with that special person. 00:20:17.61\00:20:20.82 Perhaps you've been victimized suffering cruelties 00:20:20.85\00:20:24.85 at the hands of the unsympathetic abuser. 00:20:24.89\00:20:27.96 I can tell you from personal experience 00:20:27.99\00:20:30.19 I know this can scribal the heart 00:20:30.23\00:20:32.43 and stifle thanksgiving. 00:20:32.46\00:20:34.36 But if this is your case please consider 00:20:34.40\00:20:36.87 thanking God for His mercies which are new every morning 00:20:36.90\00:20:40.84 and for the better plan that He has for your life 00:20:40.87\00:20:43.94 which He will reveal as you seek His face. 00:20:43.97\00:20:48.51 Maybe you've been diagnosed with a fatal disease 00:20:48.54\00:20:51.18 causing your heart to squeeze like a wise with fear. 00:20:51.21\00:20:56.35 Consider thanking God 00:20:56.38\00:20:57.89 for the blessed hope of eternal like 00:20:57.92\00:21:00.09 and for the opportunity to know in advance 00:21:00.12\00:21:03.59 so you can put your fears in order. 00:21:03.63\00:21:06.29 Thank Him for the peaceful rest ahead of you 00:21:06.33\00:21:09.00 as you will wait resurrection morning 00:21:09.03\00:21:11.33 when you hear His voice and come forward 00:21:11.37\00:21:14.37 from the grave to everlasting life. 00:21:14.40\00:21:17.77 Thanksgiving can quell your feel adding joy 00:21:17.81\00:21:20.94 and quality to each remaining moment. 00:21:20.98\00:21:23.58 Learning to live with your condition 00:21:23.61\00:21:25.78 is better than learning to die with it. 00:21:25.81\00:21:28.35 Maybe you are facing serious but more mundane problems, 00:21:28.38\00:21:32.19 Perhaps, there are financial problems 00:21:32.22\00:21:33.86 or someone is spreading malicious rumors about you. 00:21:33.89\00:21:37.16 James 1:2 says count it all joy 00:21:37.19\00:21:41.30 when you fall into various trials. 00:21:41.33\00:21:43.53 Now that's difficult counsel 00:21:43.57\00:21:45.30 but learning to heed it has its reward. 00:21:45.33\00:21:48.00 Why should we give thanks for fiery trials 00:21:48.04\00:21:51.44 the apostle James continues by telling us 00:21:51.47\00:21:54.21 that trials produce patience 00:21:54.24\00:21:56.58 and when patience is worked out in us 00:21:56.61\00:21:58.88 we are perfect and we lack nothing. 00:21:58.91\00:22:01.58 Crises reveals character. 00:22:01.62\00:22:03.99 So God sees a greater potential on us 00:22:04.02\00:22:06.52 and He trust us with the trial 00:22:06.55\00:22:08.52 in order that He may polish our potential. 00:22:08.56\00:22:11.43 He engineers our circumstances for our eternal benefit 00:22:11.46\00:22:15.83 working all things together for our good to conform us 00:22:15.86\00:22:18.80 to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus. 00:22:18.83\00:22:22.14 As we are tried in the fiery furnace of trial 00:22:22.17\00:22:26.07 our faith is purified and it's used with patience. 00:22:26.11\00:22:31.48 Faith eliminates the fog of circumstances 00:22:31.51\00:22:34.75 and we see God's goodness more clearly 00:22:34.78\00:22:37.79 and it is something 00:22:37.82\00:22:39.62 that establishes peace in our hearts. 00:22:39.65\00:22:42.59 Ephesians 5:20, Paul says, 00:22:42.62\00:22:45.56 "Giving thanks for all things to God the Father 00:22:45.59\00:22:50.70 in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 00:22:50.73\00:22:54.94 You know the luster of our faith life is mod 00:22:54.97\00:22:59.01 when we murmur about our circumstances. 00:22:59.04\00:23:02.08 Did our circumstances escape the attention of the one 00:23:02.11\00:23:04.95 who know the end from the beginning? 00:23:04.98\00:23:07.32 Instead of focusing on the problems 00:23:07.35\00:23:09.65 we should be focusing on the goodness 00:23:09.68\00:23:11.85 and mercy of the problem solver. 00:23:11.89\00:23:14.29 He will hear from heaven and will reward your faith. 00:23:14.32\00:23:17.49 He will keep you in perfect peace. 00:23:17.53\00:23:20.20 The obvious point here is to develop 00:23:20.23\00:23:22.63 and maintain a thankful heart. 00:23:22.66\00:23:24.67 Make a list of your blessings 00:23:24.70\00:23:27.04 and at the top of your list should be thanksgiving 00:23:27.07\00:23:30.14 for His perfect indescribable gift 00:23:30.17\00:23:33.74 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 00:23:33.78\00:23:35.74 and the gift of salvation. 00:23:35.78\00:23:37.58 Thank Him for strengthening you with the power 00:23:37.61\00:23:40.48 through His Holy Spirit living in you. 00:23:40.52\00:23:42.75 Thank Him for the transforming power of His word 00:23:42.78\00:23:45.85 which implanted in your hearts, 00:23:45.89\00:23:47.59 James says is able to save your souls. 00:23:47.62\00:23:50.66 Remember thanksgiving build faith. 00:23:50.69\00:23:54.30 And Hebrews 11:6 says, 00:23:54.36\00:23:56.53 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, 00:23:56.56\00:24:00.17 for he who comes to God must believe that He is, 00:24:00.20\00:24:03.54 and that He is a rewarder of those 00:24:03.57\00:24:06.41 who diligently seek Him." 00:24:06.44\00:24:10.05 When we enter His gates with thanksgiving 00:24:10.08\00:24:12.81 remembering His rewards 00:24:12.85\00:24:15.18 we will pray more boldly with increased assurance. 00:24:15.22\00:24:19.29 Building on the foundation of trust 00:24:19.32\00:24:21.59 our faith mounts up on wings 00:24:21.62\00:24:23.76 and we are ready to approach the Lord 00:24:23.79\00:24:26.09 in a manner that pleases Him 00:24:26.13\00:24:28.53 and we won't risk being guilty of grieving the Lord 00:24:28.56\00:24:31.57 through ingratitude and disbelief. 00:24:31.60\00:24:34.64 You know, just consider this for a moment. 00:24:34.67\00:24:37.54 Have you ever given good things 00:24:37.57\00:24:40.44 and perform special favors of-- for someone 00:24:40.48\00:24:43.88 who repeatedly takes your generosity for granted. 00:24:43.91\00:24:47.68 How do you feel with little to know 00:24:47.72\00:24:49.35 appreciation is expressed? 00:24:49.38\00:24:51.59 Be honest. 00:24:51.62\00:24:52.75 If you've come into contact 00:24:52.79\00:24:54.72 with an ungrateful wretch like this the day arrives 00:24:54.76\00:24:58.43 when you weigh the benefits of withholding your faith 00:24:58.46\00:25:01.70 or to teach the good lesson of gratitude. 00:25:01.73\00:25:04.17 Isn't that true? 00:25:04.20\00:25:05.70 It grieves the heart of the giver of every good 00:25:05.73\00:25:08.74 and perfect gift when we fail to thank Him 00:25:08.77\00:25:12.47 for His undeserved goodness toward us. 00:25:12.51\00:25:15.58 In Luke 17:17, 18, 00:25:15.61\00:25:19.28 Jesus healed ten lepers and only one a Samaritan 00:25:19.31\00:25:24.19 returned to offer the thanksgiving to him. 00:25:24.22\00:25:27.02 "And Jesus asked, 'were there not any found 00:25:27.06\00:25:31.06 who returned to give glory to God expect this foreigner.' 00:25:31.09\00:25:35.60 " I wonder if God delays answering our prayers 00:25:35.63\00:25:38.83 because of our lack of thanksgiving 00:25:38.87\00:25:41.17 just to teach us a lesson of showing appreciation for all 00:25:41.20\00:25:45.74 He has done for us through Christ Jesus. 00:25:45.77\00:25:49.08 Though provoking, isn't it? 00:25:49.11\00:25:51.28 Hebrews 13:15 says, "Therefore by him 00:25:51.31\00:25:56.35 let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, 00:25:56.38\00:26:03.53 that is, the fruit of our lips, 00:26:03.56\00:26:07.66 giving thanks to His name." 00:26:07.73\00:26:11.90 oh, thanks is something-- that thanksgiving is something 00:26:11.93\00:26:17.77 that we sure take for granted. 00:26:17.81\00:26:22.88 Today, we have learned the importance 00:26:22.91\00:26:26.58 of being like the priests of old 00:26:26.61\00:26:29.38 who entered into the gates of-- 00:26:29.42\00:26:33.69 I say they were pressing into the presence of God 00:26:33.72\00:26:36.79 they entered into the gates 00:26:36.83\00:26:39.03 with thanksgiving in their hearts 00:26:39.06\00:26:42.00 and if we would just do this what it will do for us 00:26:42.03\00:26:48.37 is it will change our attitudes. 00:26:48.40\00:26:52.27 We won't be having that pity party 00:26:52.31\00:26:55.44 and remember self pity is straight from the pits of hell. 00:26:55.48\00:27:00.15 But as we start off our prayer with thanksgiving 00:27:00.18\00:27:05.22 it changes the way we think, it changes our attitude, 00:27:05.25\00:27:09.92 it opens up our heart before God 00:27:09.96\00:27:12.73 and we can receive from Him and we are pleasing Him 00:27:12.76\00:27:18.17 because we are coming before Him with faith 00:27:18.20\00:27:22.50 and without faith it's impossible to please Him. 00:27:22.54\00:27:26.61 It is so important 00:27:26.64\00:27:28.71 that we learn to be like the priests of old. 00:27:28.74\00:27:32.95 You and I we were called as the people of God 00:27:32.98\00:27:36.55 to be a kingdom of priest so as we approach our Lord 00:27:36.58\00:27:41.89 let us enter into His gates with thanksgiving. 00:27:41.92\00:27:46.19 Let us find plenty of reason. 00:27:46.23\00:27:50.30 We can always find reason to thank God. 00:27:50.33\00:27:54.50 Now, I pray that you will be joining us next time 00:27:54.54\00:27:58.27 as we will be learning how to enter 00:27:58.31\00:28:02.14 after entering through thanksgiving 00:28:02.18\00:28:04.68 we will press into His presence 00:28:04.71\00:28:06.68 and enter His courts with praise 00:28:06.72\00:28:09.92 and that will change our mental purpose. 00:28:09.95\00:28:12.25