New Covenant Church
Developing A Grateful Heart
Pastor Stephen continues in the new series called "All In The Heart"! You can join in by attending one of our two in person services at 9:00am and 10:30am at our North and South Campus. We also have our online service at 10:30am CT. For more information visit wearencc.com
Locations & Times
New Covenant Church - South Campus
5621 Farm to Market Rd 2087, Longview, TX 75603, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Last week - Self Examination - Search my heart - Our heart is deceptive…can lie to us.
One of the lies we tell ourselves…is “more is better” - If some is good….more is better.
The lie the enemy tells us
What you don’t have, is what you need. What you do have, is not enough.
What if you already have everything you need to enjoy life?
Psalm 23:1 NLT - The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
What would change if we truly believed that? What is keeping us from believing that?
We have a tendency to fill our lives with things we don’t need, to impress people we don’t know, for opinions that don’t matter, and we become people that we don’t like.
Matthew 6:19 - Pay attention to what you’re filling your life with and what you’re giving your life to. - It’s not about whether you have stuff…it’s about where your heart is.
Is your heart desiring more of what doesn’t matter and neglecting what does matter?
The antidote for the desire for more, is gratitude for what you already have.
Gratitude is developed through the habit of giving thanks
One of the lies we tell ourselves…is “more is better” - If some is good….more is better.
The lie the enemy tells us
What you don’t have, is what you need. What you do have, is not enough.
What if you already have everything you need to enjoy life?
Psalm 23:1 NLT - The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
What would change if we truly believed that? What is keeping us from believing that?
We have a tendency to fill our lives with things we don’t need, to impress people we don’t know, for opinions that don’t matter, and we become people that we don’t like.
Matthew 6:19 - Pay attention to what you’re filling your life with and what you’re giving your life to. - It’s not about whether you have stuff…it’s about where your heart is.
Is your heart desiring more of what doesn’t matter and neglecting what does matter?
The antidote for the desire for more, is gratitude for what you already have.
Gratitude is developed through the habit of giving thanks
If you belong to Jesus, it’s God’s will that you develop a lifestyle of gratitude.
One way to guard your heart…is to develop a grateful heart
3 things you have to guard against:
1. A Complaining Heart
- We live in a culture that complains about everything. Develops a critical heart
- When we complain our bodies release too much of the stress hormone called cortisol…too much of it can impair your immune system leaving you susceptible to diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and heart disease.
One way to guard your heart…is to develop a grateful heart
3 things you have to guard against:
1. A Complaining Heart
- We live in a culture that complains about everything. Develops a critical heart
- When we complain our bodies release too much of the stress hormone called cortisol…too much of it can impair your immune system leaving you susceptible to diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and heart disease.
- Change your complaints to thanks -Intentionally thank God for what you’re tempted to complain about.
2. A Comparing Heart
- Culture pushes comparison - Social media, commercials…there’s a gravitational pull to compare. If someone else’s good is better than your good…then you stop being grateful for the good that God has given you.
2. A Comparing Heart
- Culture pushes comparison - Social media, commercials…there’s a gravitational pull to compare. If someone else’s good is better than your good…then you stop being grateful for the good that God has given you.
3. A Cluttered Heart
- Research shows clutter (too much stuff) literally affects your mental health - anxiety, stress, lack of sleep, difficulty with relationships, lower quality of life
- Research shows clutter (too much stuff) literally affects your mental health - anxiety, stress, lack of sleep, difficulty with relationships, lower quality of life
- What does one handful look like? It looks like being content with what you already have.
THE KEY TO A GRATEFUL HEART IS CONTENTMENT
THE KEY TO A GRATEFUL HEART IS CONTENTMENT
Gratitude turns whatever we have into enough.
It’s not how much you have, or how little you have. It’s about who you have.
Don’t forget to remember - Our tendency is to forget what we should remember…and remember what we should forget.
Don’t forget to remember - Our tendency is to forget what we should remember…and remember what we should forget.
Your outlook on life will change when the gratitude in your heart changes
When He is all you need, you’ll have all that you need.
If you want to experience the pleasure OF God, start finding pleasure IN God.
Psalm 37:4 -Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart… your hearts desires…will be in alignment with His desires for your life - find pleasure in Him
God help me to let go of what doesn’t matter…so I can be grateful for what truly matters.
When He is all you need, you’ll have all that you need.
If you want to experience the pleasure OF God, start finding pleasure IN God.
Psalm 37:4 -Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart… your hearts desires…will be in alignment with His desires for your life - find pleasure in Him
God help me to let go of what doesn’t matter…so I can be grateful for what truly matters.