On Sunday, we explored Paul’s call in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, a summons to a life that seems humanly impossible: one of constant joy, constant prayer, and constant gratitude. But Paul isn’t asking us to manufacture an emotional state; he’s inviting us into a new way of seeing reality. Gratitude is not a thin optimism or a spiritual technique. It’s a way of interpreting your life through the lens of grace rather than circumstance. It’s learning to live as someone who has received everything and deserved nothing. As Keller often said, “Grace doesn’t just rescue you, it reshapes how you see everything.” Gratitude grows in the soil of grace because grace re-narrates your entire story.
This week, I invite you to continue embracing the grace that cultivates gratitude. Attached are two resources intended to help you integrate Sunday’s message into your daily life: Sermon Notes for revisiting the core themes, and the Sunday to Monday Guide to facilitate reflection, engagement, and application of God’s Word with others.
Transformation seldom occurs instantaneously; it develops through sustained reflection. As we continually contemplate God's grace, our hearts gradually change. Gratitude increases, not because life becomes easier, but because Christ becomes more central in our perspective.
Happy Thanksgiving!
