Podcast Summary: "Faith Is Grateful" | Nancy Dufresne | Paducah, KY | JTH Crusades 2024 | Wednesday PM

Date: May 9, 2024
Host/Speaker: Nancy Dufresne (Dufresne Ministries)
Theme: The transformative power of gratitude as an expression of faith, the necessity of receiving God’s promises, and cultivating a grateful heart to maintain spiritual and physical well-being.

Episode Overview

Nancy Dufresne delivers a stirring teaching on the essential role of gratitude in the life of faith. Drawing from biblical texts, personal anecdotes, and practical wisdom, she explains how gratitude is more than a feeling—it's a spiritual discipline that positions believers to receive and retain God’s blessings. Throughout, she highlights the dangers of ingratitude, stresses practical ways to cultivate thankfulness, and connects gratitude directly to maintaining health, provision, and spiritual advancement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Cleansing Power of God’s Word

• Opening Scripture: John 15:3 – Jesus declares, "Now are you clean through the word that I have spoken unto you."
  • Main Point: Repetition of God’s Word doesn’t just cleanse—it perpetually refreshes and builds health, both spiritual and physical.
    [00:00–01:51]
  • “The more you say it [the Word], the more it cleans.” —Nancy Dufresne (01:20)

2. Receiving vs. Getting: Key Lessons from Blind Bartimaeus

• Scripture Focus: Mark 10:46–52 — The healing of blind Bartimaeus.
  • Bartimaeus didn’t beg Jesus to “do” something; instead, he positioned himself to receive.
  • Insight: In the New Covenant, blessings (healing, provision, etc.) are already given. The believer’s role is to receive, not to persuade God to act. [03:00–09:22]
  • “When you need to receive from God, don’t go talking to him about his part. Talk to him about your part. …God can't do your part and you can't do God's. So stay out of his part.” —Nancy Dufresne (08:13)

3. Receiving is a Spiritual Act

• Faith is in the Spirit, not the Mind:

  • Faith-based receiving is done from the heart, not through willpower or mental reasoning.
  • Manifestation (physical evidence) is different from receiving (spiritual appropriation), and the latter always precedes the former. [09:23–16:44]

• Illustrations:

  • Healing testimonies where inward spiritual “receiving” preceded outward change.
  • Holding fast: The importance of not letting go of spiritual realities, even when circumstances oppose them.

4. Maintaining Momentum in Faith

• Key Analogy: Like a radio receiver, spiritual receiving requires the heart to be “tuned in and clean” — free of static from unforgiveness, bitterness, or offense.
  • “God’s power never stops, but we can turn off our receiver.” (19:29)
  • Momentum Principle: Consistent gratitude keeps spiritual momentum and advancement in life, ministry, and health. [16:44–24:35]

5. Three Ways People Open Doors to Sickness

• As revealed to Nancy in a past miracle service:
  1. Loss of Peace: Letting worry, fear, or doubt rule opens the body to sickness.
     • “Worry is not just an option. It's a sin.” (25:54)
  2. Departing from God’s Plan: Not walking in one’s divine purpose.
     • “Long life is connected to my plan, not just your routine.” (27:15)
  3. Lack of Gratitude: The surprise factor—ingratitude actually invites the enemy to steal health and blessings. [24:35–29:38]

6. The Weight of Gratitude

• Deuteronomy 28:47 (Amplified Classic): God’s people were warned that ingratitude would result in loss, not because God sends the enemy, but because it creates spiritual vulnerability.
• Testimony: A woman, healed of cancer, refuses to hear Jesus called “healer” without standing in gratitude—“That’s how you keep the devil off your healing.” (30:08)
• Principle: Whatever is left unthanked is left unguarded.

7. Gratitude in Relationships & Church Life

• Gratitude preserves marriages, strengthens church connections, and keeps the heart healthy toward spiritual leaders and fellow believers.
  • “No one ever stood before the divorce judge and said, ‘I’m so grateful for my spouse. I’m here because I’m grateful.’” (32:15)
  • “You need a pastor more than you need a job.” (33:03)

8. Gratitude Is a Heart Issue

• 2 Chronicles 34:27 — Tenderness of heart and humility are prerequisites for effective prayer and receiving from God.
• Philippians 2:12 (Amplified Classic): “Cultivate…your own salvation with reverence…and tenderness of conscience.”
  • Hard-heartedness blocks faith; gratitude softens and opens the heart to God. [35:00–38:34]

9. Practical Stories: Living & Teaching Gratitude

• Family anecdotes illustrate the discipline of gratitude in everyday life; lack of thankfulness is never rewarded.
• “If a kid is not grateful, that should not be rewarded.” (35:00)

10. Recognizing the Source of Blessings

• James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”
  • Gratitude must not be tied to preference or manifestations, but to God’s goodness—even when blessings take unexpected forms.
  • “Sometimes God builds a man by sending him a route he wouldn't choose.” (47:16)
  • Example: Joseph’s journey through slavery and prison prepared him for greatness.
  • Personal anecdote: Even in jobs or places that aren’t “ideal,” always recognize and thank God for every level of provision. [44:42–53:07]

11. Gratitude as Faith’s Language

• “Gratitude is the language of faith. There is no such thing as an ungrateful faith person.” (52:08)
• “You can check your faith level by checking your gratitude level.” (53:07)
• Advancing in God, ministry, and health all hinge on the attitude of thankfulness.

12. Gratitude and Physical Healing

• Instead of focusing on what’s lacking or malfunctioning in the body, thank God for what is working.
• The spiritual habit of gratitude keeps the “receiver signal” clear and ready to receive more. [58:22–59:49]
  • “The point we complain at is the point we’re stuck at. …We don’t go further until gratitude replaces complaint.” (61:10)

13. Gratitude is a Choice, Not a Feeling

• “If you'll choose it, you'll feel it. …Gratitude is a sign of faith.” (58:22)
• Gratitude replaces struggle and makes serving God and others a joyful act.
• Personal advice from Nancy's mother: “You need to stop and listen to yourself, how you sound, because your spouse is tired of listening to it.” (61:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Faith is grateful. Unbelief is a complainer. Faith is grateful.” —Nancy Dufresne (62:30)
• “There is no movement in complaining.” —Nancy Dufresne (62:44)
• “If you can’t be grateful for what you have, why would I give you more?” —God’s word to a minister, shared by Nancy (52:08)
• “Gratitude is a heart health issue.” —Nancy Dufresne (35:50)

Important Timestamps

• Cleansing Power of the Word: 00:00–02:36
• Blind Bartimaeus & Receiving from God: 03:00–09:23
• Spiritual vs. Physical Receiving: 09:24–16:44
• Faith Momentum Analogy: 16:44–24:35
• Three Ways Sickness Enters: 24:35–29:38
• The Centrality of Gratitude: 29:38–44:42
• Recognizing Every Good Gift: 44:42–53:07
• Gratitude in Practice (Family/Ministry): 53:08–62:30
• Gratitude Releases Struggle and Advances Faith: 62:31–65:46
• Ministry and Prayer for Congregants: 68:34–75:26

Tone and Style

Nancy's delivery is warm, practical, and sometimes humorous, punctuated with southern colloquialisms, family stories, and transparent commentary on ministry and life. Her approach is both corrective and compassionate, challenging believers to mature in faith through gratitude while reassuring them of God’s unwavering provision and presence.

Conclusion

Nancy Dufresne concludes by encouraging everyone to “choose to be grateful about every aspect of the ministry,” emphasizing that the progress of faith halts wherever gratitude ends. She reminds listeners that gratitude is proof of faith and a key factor in receiving—and keeping—every blessing God has given.

“Faith is grateful. I said, faith is grateful. …We can all give ourselves a checkup. Amen. Praise the Lord. Say this: I’m so grateful Pastor Nancy’s telling me this. You’re welcome.” (63:24)

For Further Engagement:
Listeners are invited to visit dufresneministries.org for more resources, testimonies, and upcoming meetings.