Thankful is reflecting the inner awareness of appreciation for the circumstances, people or posture of life itself. Gratitude begins in the heart. You feel it. In Hannah's surrender - she breaks forth with thanksgiving. Hannah's pain and disappointment make her thankfulness all the more significant. Thankfulness is not just based upon the current circumstances but in the confident provision of God. Even the stories of the pilgrims and their fist thanksgiving grew out of significant loss and pain. No doubt, her thanksgiving in chapter 2 is the eruption resulting from Samuel's birth - but her focus is on the goodness of God. And just after that prayer - she returns home - without Samuel. But not without God. Be thankful! Be thankful in your surrender!

Cultivate Gratitude: Thankful, Grateful, Blessed

Thankful

1 Samuel 2:1

• Thankful: attitude of the HEART, (internal)
• Grateful: way of LIFE, (external)
• Blessed: faith FOCUS, (eternal)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

How do you prepare your heart to be Thankful?

(#1) Begin in your PAIN

Three kinds of Pain: Disappointment, People, God

see Lamentations 3:15-25

(#2) Make your TURN

see 1 Samuel 1:7-8 and 1:17-18

see Philippians 4:4-8

This is the Turn: Fix your thoughts

(#3) Do your INVENTORY

PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS, JESUS

see Ephesians 3:14-21

see 1 Samuel 2:10