Introduction: Do you consider yourself a complaining person? Do others see you as a critical person? Complaining seems to be at epic proportions in our world today. Experts tells us that gratitude, not complaining, unlocks the door to increased positive characteristics of generosity, kindness, and encouragement. In Luke’s Gospel, there is an interesting account concerning gratefulness and the tragic lack of gratefulness.

Three Steps to Developing a Grateful Heart
1. Recognize that every good thing you have comes from God. (James 1:17)
• The four most important things in life:
1. Family and Friends
2. Health
3. Time
4. Love

2. Don’t let what you want rob you of what you have. (Philippians 4:11-13)
• “Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.”  Ecclesiastes 6:9 NLT
• Gratitude turns what you have into enough.
• It’s not happy people who are grateful; it’s grateful people who are happy.
• Until Christ is all you have, you may never know that Christ is all you need!

3. Turn every blessing into praise. (Psalm 63:4-5 & 103:2-5)
• Be grateful for what you have or what you’ve had.
• Don’t be consumed with desiring what you want or grieving what you’ve lost.

Weekly Questions
1. How does your desire for what you want affect your view of what you have?
2. How can you begin to develop a heart of gratitude this week?