"How Can I Say Thanks" I Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley I June 28, 2026

Main message: Trusting God brings real, present benefits: he hears and answers prayer, delivers and protects us, and blesses abundantly — so our appropriate response is heartfelt praise and thanksgiving.

Key points:

• God hears and answers sincere prayer; prayer is a privileged means of help, not a last resort.
• God delivers people from "Sheol" (dead places) and life-threatening situations, even when the trouble was partly self-inflicted.
• God keeps us from worse outcomes — "the storm never hit" — and we often don't even know how close we were to disaster.
• God is bountiful, giving more than we ask or deserve and weaning us from unhealthy dependence on people or things.
• The fitting response to God's goodness is vocal, continual praise — opening our mouths, lifting our hands, and giving God the glory.

Scriptures mentioned: Psalm 116, Jeremiah (Lamentations 3:22–23)