You Are Valued
Fear Not, God shows up!
Gratitude rebukes worthlessness.
Fear Not, Be Grateful, for your value is given by God!
Question: Do you ever feel like you're not “good enough.” Does it make you afraid you won’t be accepted or loved?
And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:28- Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:28-32
χαριτόω - Greeting
χαίρω - Favor
χάρις - Grace
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:34-35
And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, Luke 1:46-48
Gratitude rebukes worthlessness.
Fear Not, Be Grateful, for your value is given by God!
Question: What would you do if an angel showed up and said that you were highly favored? Can you receive the truth that God loves you with an everlasting love?
Growing Gratitude
Live free, die hard.
Live Free in Christ
Let Selfish thoughts die.
15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, Ro 8:15–16.
Be Grateful that God is in control.
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7.
Let Humility grow Gratitude
Real Love is putting others first.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble., James 4:6. 1 Peter 5:5
Give God Thankful Praise.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to him with my song. Psalm 28:7.
13 For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made., Psalm 139:13–14.
Gratitude takes our eyes off of ourselves and fixes them on God
Gratitude rebukes worthlessness.
Fear Not, Be Grateful, for your value is given by God!
Reflection
What are two things I can be grateful for right now?
Pray: “God, I thank you for…
Sing today, with a grateful heart, knowing that you are loved.