Developing a Grateful Attitude
Psalm 106:1
Romans 1:21
Pastor Jerry Koller

· Two tragic attitudes surfaced: They did not honor God and they developed was a spirit of thanklessness.
· It’s been said that the root of sin is the failure to value God above all things, to not honor and praise Him as He should be honored and praised.

Notice the declaration Praise the Lord! This is not an imperative.
· An imperative is an urgent call to action.
· It is a command that is to be followed.

There are two imperatives or commands in this verse: Praise the Lord and Sing Praises to Him (the Lord).

Such is not the case in Psalm 106:1. In this psalm, it is a declaration. In other words, it is an expression of approval, or a declaration of worth, or words of homage (respect).

The Greek word from which we get the translation Praise the Lord is Ἀλληλούϊα.
· It is an adoring exclamation. (see Rev. 19:1)

How do you express approval? How do you declare His worth? How do you express words of respect? You do so by Giving thanks to the Lord.

#1. God is good.
· Goodness is an attribute of God.
· God’s goodness includes all that is excellent, all that is upright, all that is honorable, and all that is of moral excellence.

5 important Truths that result from God’s goodness.
· God is the ultimate and final standard of good.
· “Good” is what God approves.
· There is no higher standard of goodness than God’s own character and his approval of whatever is consistent with that character.
· Whatever God does is worthy of approval.
· The goodness of God is connected to the goodness of his actions.
· See Romans 12:2

#2. His love endures forever.
· Because God has poured His love into our hearts, and because this love is eternal like He is eternal, nothing—absolutely nothing—will be able to separate those who are in Christ from His love.
· See Romans 8:38-39

Suggestions to Developing a Grateful Attitude
· Look
· Praise
· Focus
· Respond

Praising and giving thanks to God must be ingrained into our very being. It must become a part of who we are and what we do as believers in Jesus.

· Judi Beckwith has returned home from the hospital following a dehydration and kidney issue. Please pray that she continues to regain strength.
· Ruby Robinson (Stan & Jean Robinson's sister-in-law) continues to deteriorate and has had to stop chemo for now because it has caused so many other health issues that her body cannot handle.
· Vincent Bryant (son of Miriam Bryant) is recovering from a procedure related to a second fistula. Please pray that it is successful.
· Crystal (friend of Tracy Marshall) had a "concerning spot" on her last PET scan. She's going in for a biopsy soon. Please pray that it's nothing.
· Susie (friend of Tracy Marshall) is currently in a new rehab facility (after having moved from a not so great one in SH) Her blood pressure and heart rate are not doing great and she is very down emotionally.
· Nolan Marshall is refusing to go to music therapy, he says he doesn't like it, even though the therapist says that he appears to be enjoying the sessions. They also resumed tutoring this past week and there is some concern about how it will go since Nolan has some sort of therapy/tutoring every afternoon. The limits of what he will tolerate are being pushed, so please pray that he is agreeable.
· Tyler & Holly Norman upon the birth of their son, Reed, on 10/24.
· Caroline Bocock has been terribly ill as she is dealing with a Lyme Disease outbreak. She has begun a treatment regimen that looks promising. Please pray that it is effective and that she will be feeling better soon.
· Joyce Bocock has completed chemo and radiation; praise God that both tumors have shrunk significantly more than expected; evaluating additional treatment options.
· Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.

First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com