Gratitude and Prayer

Sermon for Sunday, August 17, 2014

Heidelberg450 Series:  Lord’s Day 45

First Presbyterian Church ▪ Lake Crystal, Minnesota

Rev. Randal K. Lubbers, Pastor & Teacher

Gratitude Takes Nothing For Granted

Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 116 & 117

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Psalm 116; Matthew 7:7-8

I felt it once on a drive through Northeast Iowa when leaves of the trees were orange and red and yellow and gold and the sunlight made the hills seem like they were on fire.

I felt it just this week on an early-evening bike ride as I passed the high school on the trail and the speed was creating a breeze—the cool air evaporating my sweat—the sun nearing the horizon.

I felt it when Elyse was born—Luke too, of course, but I thought of Elyse first when I wrote this because she’s the one going off to college this week.

As you might remember from last week’s sermon, Sheldon Cooper felt it when Penny gave him the napkin signed by Leonard Nimoy and he gave her all seven or twelve gift baskets—or however many there were—it really doesn’t matter because like Sheldon said, “I know, I know, it’s not enough.”

And perhaps you have felt it too. It’s that surge of joyful energy flowing through your body; it’s a powerful and authentic feeling; it’s a VERY REAL THING… it’s the rush you feel when you become fully aware and appreciate that you have been given a gift, many gifts—indeed, you become aware that you are “surrounded by a profusion of gifts” (Don Postema, Space for God, p. 53).

It’s the feeling of gratitude.

The Heidelberg Catechism puts both the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer in the context of gratitude. The Heidelberg says, “Prayer is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the thankfulness God requires of us.”

Prayer can be confession, pleading, lament, or praise. Prayers can be happy or tearful—sometimes even both. But interwoven through every prayer is gratitude. 

What a contrast to envy and greed, the very things we are taught to guard against in the tenth commandment—we talked about this last week.

What a reminder—once again—that the commandments are gifts from God to help us live in freedom. Envy and greed shackle us, enslave us. Gratitude set us free.

Gratitude takes nothing for granted.

A friend of mine fixed her daughter pork chops, green beans, baked potato for supper just before sending her off to college. Gratitude recognizes the dinner as a gift and is aware of that it was Mom who prepared the dinner.

Have you received a card or a compliment recently? Gratitude recognizes the card as a gift—and the person sending the card too. Gratitude makes us aware of the LOVE involved in the smallest, most ordinary, everyday gifts. Gratitude recognizes the person behind the gift. So when we say thank you to these persons in our lives, we’re learning how to pray.  Mother Teresa said, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”

And yet there’s a deeper dimension… when we PRAY we become MORE AWARE of the gifts we have been given, more aware of the people in our lives. Not only does gratitude move us towards prayer—prayer moves us to gratitude. In praying, we become more aware, more alive, more grateful.  

Thomas Merton wrote, “Gratitude takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder, and to praise of the goodness of God….

[Piano begins playing “How Can I Keep from Singing?”]

“To be grateful is to recognize the LOVE of God in everything (God) has given us—and (yes) (God) has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His Love, every moment of existence is a grace…” (Merton quoted by Postema, pp. 50, 53). 

When we become more aware, we become more alive… and then every moment of life becomes precious and perfect… And then prayer and gratitude and joy and love and awareness of God's good gifts… these all weave together like an endless song…

[Segue to the congregational hymn, “How Can I Keep from Singing?”]