Song: “My Tribute (To God Be The Glory) – Andrae Crough

Starting Our Day Together with H. Montgomery Jr.

OPENING – A HEART OF GRATITUDE

Good morning, good morning, good morning, everybody!

Welcome to another edition of Starting Our Day Together!

I pray that you woke up this morning with a little peace in your heart, a little joy in your spirit, and a willingness to make this day better than yesterday.

And if you didn’t wake up feeling that way, that’s all right, too.

Because maybe, just maybe, what we’re going to talk about this morning will help you see your day a little differently.

Today, I want to talk about something simple, but something that I believe can make a tremendous difference in our lives.

Two little words: THANK YOU!

You know, sometimes we get so busy living, so busy working, so busy trying to solve problems, and so busy worrying about what we don’t have that we forget to appreciate what we do have.

We forget to thank God.

We forget to thank the people who love us.

We forget to thank the people who support us.

And sometimes, we even forget to appreciate the little things that make life worth living.

But I want to remind us of something this morning:

Every day may not be a good day, but there is something good to be thankful for in every day.

Let me say that again.

Every day may not be a good day, but there is something good to be thankful for in every day.

And I believe that when we learn to recognize those things, acknowledge them, and express our gratitude, we begin to change not only our attitude but also the atmosphere around us.

PART ONE – FIRST, THANK GOD

The Bible tells us in Psalm 107:1: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Notice something about that Scripture.

It doesn’t tell us to thank God only when everything is going well.

It doesn’t say thank Him only when the bills are paid, the children are behaving, our health is good, and everybody is treating us right.

It simply says, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

In other words, our gratitude is rooted in who God is, not merely in what is happening around us.

And that’s important, because circumstances change.

Some days we’re on top of the mountain.

Other days we’re struggling to climb out of the valley.

Some mornings we wake up excited about life.

Other mornings we wake up carrying burdens that nobody else knows anything about.

But through all of that, God remains good.

Think about this morning.

You woke up.

You have another opportunity to make a difference.

You have another opportunity to love somebody, encourage somebody, forgive somebody, or correct something you may have gotten wrong yesterday.

That’s worth thanking God for.

Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that God’s mercies never come to an end and that they are new every morning.

Every morning!

That means yesterday’s difficulties do not have to determine today’s possibilities.

Before we start complaining about what we have to do today, maybe we ought to thank God that we have another day in which to do it.

PART TWO – THANK THE PEOPLE GOD HAS PLACED IN YOUR LIFE

Now, here’s where I really want us to think this morning.

We should not only be thankful to God. We should also express gratitude to the people God has allowed to become part of our lives.

Because nobody makes it through this life entirely on their own.

Somebody has prayed for you.

Somebody has encouraged you.

Somebody has helped you when you were struggling.

Somebody has believed in you when you were having difficulty believing in yourself.

And somebody may be standing beside you right now, quietly supporting you, without ever asking for recognition.

Have you thanked them lately?

I’m talking about your husband, your wife, your children, your parents, your brothers and sisters, your friends, your coworkers, and those special people who have become family even though you don’t share the same blood.

Sometimes we become so accustomed to people being there that we begin to take their presence for granted.

We assume they’ll always be there.

We assume they already know how much we appreciate them.

But here’s something I want us to remember:

Don’t make people guess how much they mean to you.

Tell them while you have the opportunity.

The Apostle Paul gives us a beautiful example in Philippians 1:3-5, where he expresses gratitude to God as he remembers those who partnered with him in the work of the gospel.

Paul understood that the people who walk with us, pray with us, and support us are blessings worth acknowledging.

So today, pick up that telephone.

Send that text message.

Look somebody in the eye and say, “I just want you to know that I appreciate you. Thank you for being part of my life.”

You might be surprised how much those words mean to someone.

Because sometimes the people who spend their lives encouraging everybody else are the very people who rarely hear any encouragement themselves.

PART THREE – FIND SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR, EVEN ON A BAD DAY

Now, let’s talk about something that I know every one of us can relate to.

Bad days.

Because we’re going to have them.

There are going to be days when things don’t work out the way we planned.

Days when somebody disappoints us.

Days when we’re tired, frustrated, worried, or discouraged.

And I don’t want anybody to misunderstand what I’m saying this morning.

Being grateful doesn’t mean pretending everything is wonderful when it isn’t.

It doesn’t mean ignoring pain.

It doesn’t mean we can’t cry, grieve, get frustrated, or acknowledge that life is sometimes difficult.

Gratitude doesn’t deny our struggles. It reminds us that our struggles are not the whole story.

Listen to what Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Notice that Paul says give thanks in all circumstances.

He doesn’t say we have to be thankful for every painful thing that happens to us.

There is a difference.

I don’t have to be thankful for the illness, the disappointment, the loss, or the hardship.

But even while I’m going through those things, I can still thank God for His presence, His strength, His mercy, and the people He has placed around me.

Maybe today you don’t have everything you want, but you have something you need.

Maybe somebody hurt your feelings yesterday, but somebody else showed you kindness.

Maybe you received some disappointing news, but you still have someone willing to listen and pray with you.

Sometimes gratitude requires us to look a little harder.

But when we look for the blessings, we often discover that God has not stopped being good to us just because life has become difficult.

PART FOUR – GRATITUDE CAN CHANGE OUR ATTITUDE

I believe that if we practiced gratitude more often, many of us would experience more joy in our everyday lives.

Not because all our problems would suddenly disappear.

But because we would stop allowing our problems to become the only things we focus on.

Think about two people facing the same difficult situation.

One spends the entire day talking about everything that’s wrong.

The other acknowledges the difficulty but also recognizes the blessings that remain.

Neither person’s circumstances may have changed.

But their perspectives are different.

And perspective matters.

When we constantly focus on what is missing, we can become so consumed with dissatisfaction that we overlook the goodness surrounding us.

But when we begin looking for reasons to be thankful, we create room in our hearts for contentment, peace, and joy.

And here’s something else.

Your gratitude might become somebody else’s encouragement.

There may be somebody watching how you handle your difficulties.

They know you’re going through something.

They know life hasn’t been easy for you.

And yet, they see you still smiling.

Still showing kindness.

Still trusting God.

Still finding a reason to say thank you.

And they may begin to wonder, “How can that person still have joy with everything they’re going through?”

That’s an opportunity to share your faith.

You can tell them, “I’m not smiling because everything is perfect.

I’m smiling because I know God is still with me.”

Now, that’s a testimony!

And sometimes our testimony is not simply what we say about God.

Sometimes it’s how we live while we’re trusting Him.

PART FIVE – PUT YOUR GRATITUDE INTO ACTION TODAY

So, here’s what I want us to do today.

I want us to make gratitude more than just a nice thought.

I want us to make it a daily practice.

First, before you get caught up in everything you have to do, take a moment to thank God.

Not just for the big blessings, but for the little ones.

Thank Him for another morning.

Thank Him for His mercy.

Thank Him for the strength to face whatever comes your way.

Second, thank somebody who has made a difference in your life.

And don’t just think about it.

Actually, tell them.

You don’t need a special occasion to let someone know they’re appreciated.

Third, look for an opportunity to encourage somebody else.

Maybe it’s a kind word.

Maybe it’s a smile.

Maybe it’s a telephone call, a prayer, or simply taking the time to listen.

And finally, before you go to bed tonight, I want you to think about three things that happened during the day for which you can be thankful.

Even if today turns out to be difficult, look for those three things.

They don’t have to be extraordinary.

Sometimes the smallest blessings become the greatest reminders of God’s goodness.

CLOSING REFLECTION – DON’T WAIT TO SAY THANK YOU

As we prepare to go our separate ways this morning, I want to leave you with this thought.

Life moves quickly.

People come into our lives, and sometimes, before we realize it, circumstances change.

That’s why I believe we ought to make a habit of expressing our gratitude while we have the opportunity.

Don’t wait until somebody is gone to talk about how much they meant to you.

Don’t wait until you lose a blessing to recognize that it was a blessing.

And don’t wait until everything in your life is perfect before you decide to be thankful.

Because if you’re waiting for a life without problems before you start expressing gratitude, you may never get started.

Be thankful today.

Be thankful tomorrow.

And when tomorrow becomes difficult, find something to be thankful for anyway.

Remember, a grateful heart doesn’t guarantee an easy life.

But it can help us experience a more joyful life, a more peaceful life, and a life that brings encouragement to the people around us.

CLOSING PRAYER

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, we come before You this morning with grateful hearts.

Lord, we thank You for another day, for Your grace, Your mercy, and Your steadfast love.

Forgive us for the times we’ve focused so much on what we don’t have that we’ve forgotten to appreciate what You’ve already given us.

Help us to recognize the blessings in our lives, even when we’re facing difficult circumstances.

                Father, thank You for the people You’ve placed along our journey.

Help us never to take their love, their friendship, their prayers, or their support for granted.

Give us the courage to express our appreciation and the compassion to encourage someone who may be struggling today.

And Lord, when our days become difficult, remind us that we can still find reasons to be grateful because You have promised never to leave us or forsake us.

Let our gratitude become a source of joy in our hearts and a light of encouragement to those around us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

FINAL WORD

Well, my friends, that’s our thought for today on Starting Our Day Together.

Before you move on with your day, I want you to do one thing.

Tell somebody thank you.

And when you do, don’t just say the words. Mean them.

Because you never know how much somebody may need to hear that they’re appreciated.

And remember: Every day may not be a good day, but there’s something good to be thankful for in every day.

May God bless you, may God keep you, and may you find a reason to smile, a reason to be grateful, and an opportunity to be a blessing to somebody else today.

Until we come together again, keep the faith, keep showing love, and keep making a difference.

Have a blessed and grateful day!

1. Montgomery Jr.

Faith • Family • Leadership • Counseling • Community • Impact

www.HMontgomeryJR.net