Attitude of Gratitude

Thanksgiving 2007, 2 months after we moved to this location and changed our name from Lights of Hope Ministry to
Life Song Church, during my morning prayer time God gave us the mandate: “Ignite the Thumb with Praise and
Worship.” From 2007 to 2020, we espoused the power of praising God as His presence would always fill our sanctuary.
We lived the power of praise! Then on 2-22-20 the Praise Rallies started.
After two-and-a-half years of Praise Rallies around the Thumb of Michigan, we started a fire that has engulfed all 5
counties. This fire will increase in its intensity. We fulfilled our mandate!
Thanksgiving 2022, 15 years after God’s mandate, during my prayer time, we received another mandate: “Declare My
Authority!” This confirmed what we have been doing for all of 2022. It has been a year of the decree, especially
declaring God’s authority. Because we have been obedient to praise the Lord in spirit and in truth, because our hearts
are loyal to God, He is showing Himself strong on our behalf as we “Declare God’s Authority,” “The Truth Will Prevail!”
The Epitome of Gratitude:
Praising God with our whole heart, unashamed, shouting, lifting hands, clapping, dancing and rejoicing is the epitome of
gratitude towards our Father God. It not only releases our breath (our spirit) forming into words and shouts, but it
engulfs our entire body as a living sacrifice of praise! Even our body acknowledges the presence and glory of God that
surrounds us.
John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for
the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and
truth."
2 Chron 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of
those whose heart is loyal to Him.
Attitude Changes Everything! Do Not Be Dismayed! This is not a suggestion from God, it is a command, especially to
those who are His faithful leaders in His army.
Jer 1:16-19 I will utter My judgments Against them concerning all their wickedness, Because they have forsaken Me,
Burned incense to other gods, And worshiped the works of their own hands. 17 "Therefore prepare yourself and arise,
And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them.
18 For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land —
Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land. 19 They will fight
against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you," says the Lord, "to deliver you."
Dismayed: Strong’s # 2865, Hebrew, chathath (khaw-thath); to prostrate hence to breakdown, either by violence or by
confusion and fear; abolish, affright, make afraid, beat down, discourage, dismay, go down, scare, terrify. Dismayed is a
military term surrendering authority to the enemy through fear, confusion and violence.
Eph 6:10-11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Two of my favorite quotes are: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing,” -Edmund
Burke. The other is by Charles R. Swindoll:
“Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, money, circumstances, than
failures and success, than what other people think, say, or do. It is more important than appearance, ability, or skill. It
will make or break a business, a home, a friendship, an organization. The remarkable thing is I have a choice every day of
what my attitude will be. I cannot change my past. I cannot change the actions of others. I cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing I can change is attitude. Life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it.”

A negative attitude is like a cancer. It spreads into people’s hearts like a disease. Once this happens, it is very difficult to
hear the voice of God and people become spiritually lethargic. It all starts with critical, unthankful words that form
thoughts. These thoughts form a filter as to what we let in and what to keep out. This filter will keep out the truth and
let in things that justify the lie. At this point, a person is deceived. The filter has become a stronghold, a sentinel keeping
out the truth.
Entitlement: “You cannot be grateful for something you feel entitled to,” -Furtick. Entitlement destroys gratitude. Many
people who are dependent on government assistance have the attitude of entitlement, thus keeping them in bondage.
Many times, the state becomes their god and anyone who endangers their entitlement is the enemy.
Rom 1:21,22 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in
their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise they became as fools.
Once our hearts become darkened, the light (truth) of God is muffled and clouded. Being depressed doesn’t
automatically mean we have a negative attitude. But if depression isn’t dealt with, it can become a critical, negative
attitude, affecting our vision.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit is the life-force from God in which healing, blessings and energy
flows. A hard, darkened heart hinders the flow of the Holy Spirit, and therefore restricts healing and energy.
The best deterrent against depression and a negative critical attitude, is thankfulness combined with praise! Remember;
praise is the epitome of gratitude and thankfulness. It opens our heart to receive from God through the Holy Spirit.
Thank: Strong’s # 3034 yadah (Yah-dah); to revere or worship with extended hands; to praise, give thanks, acknowledge,
declare the merits of someone. Yadah is an important word for praise or thanks and occurs more than 100 time in the
OT, more than half of these in the book of Psalms. Yadah comes from yad (hand) which developed into the verb yadah
suggesting outstretched hands as a means of worship and thanks.
When King David placed the Ark in the tabernacle, he administered 24/7 praise and worship to give thanks to our Lord.
1 Chron 16:7-8 On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the Lord: 8
Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Ps 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Ps 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Ps 95:1-2 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His
presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
Praying with thanksgiving strengthens our trust in our Lord
Phil 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be
made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
1 Thess 5:16-18 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus for you.
Matt 15:35-38 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish
and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. 37 So they all ate
and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. 38 Now those who ate were
four thousand men, besides women and children.
The miracle happened when Jesus “gave thanks,” likewise, miracles happen when we give thanks!