Lenten Sermon Series: Songs of Lent
Authentic Gratitude
Reflections
Gratitude… is a response to grace. The compassionate life is a grateful life, and actions born out of gratefulness are not compulsive but free, not somber but joyful, not fanatical but liberating.
— Henri Nouwen
- pain, loss, brokenness still exist when gratitude is based on circumstances, comparison with others
- gratitude needs to be in both best of life and challenges in life
- Gratitude vs. Envy (ignoring God’s goodness to you, suspicious of God’s goodness)
- Authentic Gratitude:
- Basis (v.1) It is based on His steadfast love; God rescues time after time
- Cycle (v.17-20)
- Being in distress, then crying out to God, intervention by God, then giving thanks
- God pursues you -> God loves you
- Response (v.21-22)
- being joyful
- worship
- mission: blessing to others
