This study guide was produced by Keswick Ministries. Keswick Ministries hosts a Convention for 3 weeks each summer in the English Lake District. They also run year-round teaching and training events and produce digital and printed resources. The central vision of Keswick Ministries is to see the people of God equipped, encouraged and refreshed to love and live for Christ in his world. We hope you are blessed by this series.

Getting Started

‘What is God’s will for my life?’
When we ask that question, we are often looking for specific guidance
about which job to do, where to live or whom to marry. But the Bible
doesn’t use the word ‘will’ in this narrow, personal sense. Of course, God
is interested in every facet of our lives and, through a variety of means,
graciously guides us. But even when we are unclear about which step to
take next or what the future holds, we can be certain of God’s will: ‘Give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for [us] in Christ Jesus’
(1 Thessalonians 5:18). Regardless of job title, relationship status or
postcode, God wants us to grow in gratitude. We are commanded to be
grateful, which is a decision we make – or don’t make – multiple times
every day. But gratitude is more than dutiful obedience; it is a holy habit
that is to be cultivated over a lifetime, our heart’s response to God’s
kindness, which saturates everything we do and all that we are.

From the Bible – Philippians 4:4–9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let your
gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from
me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be
with you.

Discussion Points

• Share examples of when you have chosen to be grateful even though you have been hurt or disappointed by a person or situation. What difference did your choice make?
• What reasons do we have always to be grateful and praise God
  (verses 4–5)?
• Look at verses 6–7. How does praying with a grateful attitude help us during difficult times?
• According to verses 8–9, how can we cultivate a God-honouring, and therefore grateful, mindset?
• Read Daniel 6:1–14.
  (a) Describe the trap the royal officials set for Daniel.
  (b) How is Daniel able to offer prayers of thanksgiving in this
  difficult situation (verse 10)?
• When we choose to be grateful to God, which Bible truths are we affirming? Look at the following passages:
  • Romans 8:28–30
  • Romans 8:31, 38–39.
• Look at Ephesians 5:1–4 and Colossians 3:15–17. How does an attitude of gratitude have an impact on
  (a) our relationship with God
  (b) our relationships with other Christians

Personal Application

Think through what you have learnt from this whole study. What depletes your sense of gratitude to God the most?
Pride
A sense of entitlement
Comparing yourself with others
Worry
Fear
Busyness
Failing to trust God

Reflect on the times when you have chosen to be grateful. What have been the most significant side effects?
Joy
Peace
A sense of freedom
Generosity towards others
Trust in God
Humility
An increased appreciation of God’s glory and greatness

What are you doing to develop a holy habit of gratitude . . .
(a) in your own life
(b) in your family
(c) in your church?

The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy. Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful, even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment . . . I can choose to be grateful when I am criticized, even when my heart still responds in bitterness. I can choose to speak about goodness and beauty, even when my inner eye still looks for someone to accuse or something to call ugly. I can choose to listen to the voices that forgive and to look at the faces that smile, even while I still hear words of revenge and see grimaces of hatred. There is always the choice between resentment and gratitude because God has appeared in my darkness, urged me to come home, and declared in a voice filled with affection: ‘You are with me always, and all I have is yours.’ The choice for gratitude rarely comes without some real effort. But each time I make it, the next choice is a little easier, a little freer, a little less self-conscious.

(Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son, p. 85)

Prayer Time

Let every detail in your lives – words, actions, whatever – be done in the
name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
(Colossians 3:17, MSG)

Pray for these words of Colossians 3:17 to become an increasing reality in
your life. Pray for your obedience to Christ and your gratitude to God to
• help your family see the inestimable worth of Jesus
• attract unbelievers to the gospel
• bring glory to God.