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Tilling the Soil of the Heart: Thankfulness · First15 Devotional

• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we continue this week, focusing on telling the soil of our hearts.
• 0:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Today we're going to look at the role of thankfulness, and opening our hearts to receive all that God loves to give.
• 0:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: While scripture is filled with encouragement to be thankful, I think our own lived experience tells us that being thankful is essential in the pursuit of an abundant life.
• 0:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: So may God remind us of all we have to be thankful for today as we make space to meet with him.
• 0:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: And may our days be better as the result of taking just a few moments to be thankful for who we are, what we have, and all God has done for us as His beloved children.
• 0:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast.
• 1:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: Our verse for today comes from Psalm 107 verse 1, Scripture says, O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love and doors forever.
• 1:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thankfulness is one of the most powerful tools in making our hearts both soft to the seed of God's Word and filled with abundant joy.
• 1:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanksgiving aligns our thoughts and emotions with the reality of God's goodness in a world brought with lies about the character of God.
• 1:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: It breeds joy and trust, rather than entitlement and negativity.
• 2:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: with each declaration of thankfulness.
• 2:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: You dig a shovel into the hard, rocky soil of your heart and turn it over until it becomes receptive to the fullness of God and filled with the fruit of the Spirit.
• 2:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible is laid in with commands to be thankful.
• 2:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ephesians 520 tells us to be giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Philippians 4.6 tells us do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
• 2:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: But my favorite command on thankfulness is Psalm 107-1, O give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His steadfast love and doors forever.
• 3:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: You see, it's important to understand that the Bible doesn't suggest that we give thanks, but rather commands us to always be thankful.
• 3:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: And in God's command, He reveals His heart.
• 3:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: We learn in Psalm 107 that our thankfulness is meant to be a response to the steadfast love of our Heavenly Father.
• 3:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: thankfulness is meant to be the overflow of remembering, encountering, and mulling over how our God is abundantly faithful and filled with unconditional love for us.
• 3:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: I used to read Scripture commanding me to be thankful and think, sorry God, I know I need to be more thankful, I know I'm so provided for and loved, I'm sorry for not thanking you more.
• 3:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: But after meditating on Psalm 107-1, I realized that my lack of thankfulness is a symptom of not spending enough time in countering God's wonderful character, rather than a court issue in and of itself.
• 4:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Tilling the soil of my heart through thankfulness requires that I set aside time to simply experience God's goodness and love.
• 4:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Because everything he does is by grace, my natural response to his character will always be one of Thanksgiving.
• 4:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Take time today to reflect on the faithful and loving character of your Heavenly Father.
• 4:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Allow his goodness to cause thankfulness to well up within you.
• 4:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: May your time and guided prayer be filled with a transformational encounter with God and cultivate good soil that bears the fruit of an abundant life.
• 5:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, reflect on the faithful and loving character of your Heavenly Father.
• 5:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Isaiah 40 verse 28 says, Have you not known?
• 5:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Have you not heard?
• 5:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.
• 5:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: He does not faint or grow weary.
• 6:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: His understanding is unsearchable.
• 6:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: next.
• 6:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Respond to God's character with thankfulness.
• 6:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank God for who he is.
• 6:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Look at your life and thank God for any good gifts he's given you.
• 6:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Allow his goodness to stir up thankfulness within you.
• 7:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 107 one says, Oh, give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His steadfast love and doors forever.
• 7:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: What changed in your heart, as you engaged in Thanksgiving?
• 7:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you're able, journal or reflect on the power of thankfulness, ask the Holy Spirit to help you see how God is at work in your life today, and offer Thanksgiving in response.
• 9:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you start to feel your heart begin to harden because of something that happens today, simply reflect on the goodness of God and give thanks.
• 9:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Negativity and sin have an incredibly harmful effect on our hearts.
• 9:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Decide to put away any form of slander, impurity, and anything negative at all.
• 9:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: And instead focus on the goodness of what God is doing.
• 9:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Choose to love today and align your thoughts and emotions with faith and trust in who God is.
• 9:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: To walk in relationship with God is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times.
• 9:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you get off track for a bit, simply ask the Spirit to lead you back to the perspective and posture of heart he desires for you.
• 10:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: God's grace is abounding and powerful.
• 10:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to walk in relationship with you all day-to-day.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: May your day be filled with peace, joy, and a passionate pursuit of bringing his kingdom to earth all around you.
• 10:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh with first 15, thanks for listening to today's podcast.
• 10:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day-to-day, look for opportunities to express your thankfulness to yourself, others, and your heavenly father.
• 11:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you start to feel like negativity is taking over, your heart is hard towards someone, or that life is simply dragging you down.
• 11:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: Taking just a few moments to find and express thankfulness makes all the difference.
• 11:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day today and may God bless you as you seek him.