How to Live a Life of Thanksliving

This past Sunday our church had the opportunity to hear a powerful message from Pastor Jason Hood, Thanksliving, encouraging us to have a heart that is not only thankful in a particular season but stays in a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving continually as a way of life.

Have you ever walked through a season of depression? Or maybe a season when your Spirit felt down, discouraged, or disengaged? We have all probably faced challenging seasons like this at some point in our lives. But did you know you have the power to choose joy? There is power in thanking God for what you do have, instead of what you are lacking. The enemy wants us to focus on what's wrong in our lives, but gratitude for what you do have is a powerful tool to change the way you live your life.

We serve a God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. He is a God of hope. He is a God who has promised us an abundant life and future. His goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

-Psalm 107:22 (KJV)

It’s easy for us to forget that ungratefulness is a sin- it’s truly ugly, wrong, and offensive. Knowing this should cause us to pay incredible attention to our thoughts and actions regarding being ungrateful. Paul, speaks about unthankfulness in our last days...

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

-2 Timothy 3:1-5

Oftentimes we are caught grumbling and complaining more than we are speaking about the things we are grateful for. True gratitude is an overflow of our hearts.

...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.-Matthew 12:34 (NKJV)

If you are thankful, and you're living a life of Thanksliving, then communicate it. Declare your thankfulness, by doing so you are shining a light into darkness!

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. -Hebrews 13:16 (KJV)

So how do we keep these truths close to our hearts, avoid the sin of ungratefulness, and start living a life of Thanksliving?

We offer sacrifices to God. In the Old Testament, Scripture teaches us that sacrifices of thanksgiving were made of animals, fruits, and grains. In the New Testament, Scripture teaches us that we are to offer spiritual sacrifices.

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. -1 Peter 2:3-5

Pastor Jason provided us with these 3 Spiritual Sacrifices we can offer God. This is how we live lives of thanksliving:

1) THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

It is a Biblical command that we continually praise and worship Jesus, it is not a suggestion. God considers your praise to be very valuable! But you must enter into praise from your free will, God knows the posture of your heart.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. -Hebrews 13:15 (KJV)

Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. -Psalm 119:108

2) THE SACRIFICE OF PRAYER

God enjoys hanging out with a thankful heart. Just like us, God doesn’t want to hang out with someone who just ate dill pickle soup, is a sour patch kid, or is a negative Nancy. God enjoys positive, thankful, and joyful people. Tell God in prayer all the things you are thankful for, list them out and speak them out loud! Draw near to God through choosing joy and choosing thanksgiving. Rejoice in prayer!

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. -Psalm 141:2 (KJV)

In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. -1 Timothy 2:8 (NLT)

3) THE SACRIFICE OF YOU

Jesus gave His life for you. Have you given your body, your life, to Him? Are you all in with God, because He wants all of you! Are you giving everything you have and everything you do to God to be used and guided by Him? We are blessed to be the hands and feet of Jesus here on Earth.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. -Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)

Maybe it’s time to evaluate your life. Are you living a life of thanksliving? Or have you let the sin of ungratefulness sneak in and take root. Are you grumbling and complaining more than you are praising and worshiping? Are you asking God for more things in your prayer life than you are saying thank you for? Does God have your whole heart? It’s never too late to choose joy, step into an attitude of gratitude, and allow thankfulness to pour out of your heart in abundance to the Lord.

This is how we shed light, overcome darkness, and defeat the enemy.

I invite you to view this message, “Thanksliving” in its entirety at this link:

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving the anointing in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

Stirred Up

Sometimes we all need a little stirring in our prayer lives so that we can avoid becoming too settled or complacent. If we're not careful our prayers can become lackluster before we even realize it. We can get caught asking for the bare minimum because we limit what God can do in our thoughts. We need to supersize our faith! God answers prayers and He wants to do above and beyond what we are asking for!

Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” -Matthew 20:30

Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. -Matthew 20:32

“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. -Matthew 20:33-34

Are you only asking for the bare minimum? The Bible says that we should come boldly before the throne of God and ask for what we want, and we can ask for ANYTHING the Bible has promised us! Healing, restoration, favor, anointing, prosperity, and peace, you can pray for it all to be poured into your life. Wouldn't you love to see God show up and show off in your prayer life?

The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. -Psalm 2:7-8

In this message, “Pray Bigger”, Pastor Joe Dobbins from Twin Rivers Church in St Louis, Mo provides us with three simple, but incredibly powerful prayers we can start praying right now to supersize our faith and stir up our prayer lives! You don't want to miss this message filled with inspiration, encouragement, and a little bit of humor too.

Now glory is to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. -Ephesians 3:20 (TLB)

Increase your vision!

Limit your doubts.

And ask God to release the supernatural in your life!

We would love the opportunity to join with you in prayer, click here to fill out a prayer request.

We believe prayer changes everything.

WATCH IT

People of the Bible: Nehemiah

Book of the Bible: Nehemiah 

Who was Nehemiah?

Nehemiah’s story begins with him as a slave in a foreign land. He hears news that his home city of Jerusalem is in dire need of help but he is trapped where he is. Nehemiah prays and fasts and God provides an opportunity for him to go to Jerusalem and serve as its governor. Nehemiah takes the opportunity.

Jerusalem’s walls had fallen approximately 70 years before when the Babylonians attacked, captured, and destroyed the city. Nehemiah, along with Ezra, took the responsibility of rebuilding the city and the walls. Having strong walls around the city was important to guard it against attacks. Nehemiah showed great leadership and rallied the people around his cause.

Unfortunately, while they were rebuilding the walls, the Israelites faced great opposition from the surrounding countries. The surrounding countries feared that if they were successful at rebuilding the walls, then God would make Jerusalem a powerful nation once again.

Nehemiah was a great leader and encourager. He knew his enemies were trying to stop his people, but he didn’t go out to fight them. He had faith and trusted that God would deliver them from their enemy like he had done so many times before. He encouraged the people while they were under persecution and together they rebuilt the walls that had previously laid in ruins for 70 years. It only took them 52 days!

The story of Nehemiah shows us how strong leadership can influence a situation. But, beyond that, we are shown the power of prayer. It was Nehemiah’s prayers and his relationship with God that led to immense success. We see this in Jesus’s life as well. Jesus would often go out on his own to pray and spend alone time with God. This strong relationship with God helped Jesus follow God's will every step of the way and gave him the ability to lead people with his vision and the truth of the coming of the kingdom of God.

Prayer gives us the ability to be in a close relationship with God and discern what He wants from us. Jesus even taught us in Mark 11:24- “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Let me encourage you, prayer changes everything! Begin your day with prayer. Fill your day with prayer. End your day with prayer. Have faith, like Nehemiah, that God will answer your prayers!

Parents, 3treesKIDS will also be learning about the life of this Nehemiah Sunday, both in-person and online. Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids. To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.