The Kris Vallotton Podcast

Episode: Sermon – The Power of Gratitude
Host: Kris Vallotton
Date: January 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt sermon, Kris Vallotton explores the transformative power of gratitude and thanksgiving in the Christian life. Sharing personal struggles and revelations, Kris teaches how cultivating a thankful heart can inoculate believers against bitterness, entitlement, fear, and resentment. Drawing from scripture, his own life experiences, and prophetic ministry, Kris encourages listeners to adopt practical steps toward daily gratitude, even (especially) in difficult times.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dream: Inoculated by Gratitude

[02:00 - 06:30]

• Kris recounts a vivid, life-changing dream in which he receives a “shot” of gratitude:
  • "I saw I was getting a shot with a large syringe...it said gratitude." (03:02)
  • The Lord tells him: “I just inoculated you with Thanksgiving...You had several deadly diseases...entitlement, bitterness, resentment, apathy, anger, unforgiveness, jealousy, competition, pride, arrogance, conceit, suspicion.” (04:00)
  • Kris feels convicted, realizing gratitude is the antidote to these unhealthy “diseases.”
  • “The enemy has put those seeds...but none of them will take root if you keep gratitude alive in your life.” (05:20)

2. The Biblical Foundation of Gratitude

[07:00 - 14:30]

• Psalm 100:4: “We’ll enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” (07:40)
  • Kris distinguishes thanksgiving (responding to God’s acts) from praise (responding to God’s character).
  • “Thanksgiving opens our ears to the voice of God. It clears the clutter…Gratitude pushes us past the stones of stumbling.” (08:30)
• Philippians 4:6: “Be anxious for nothing...with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.” (13:25)
  • “Thanksgiving is the Prozac of the Spirit...when you start to get thankful, it changes the way you think.” (13:45)

3. Gratitude as a Remedy for Spiritual and Emotional Unhealth

[14:30 - 20:45]

• Ephesians 5:3-4: Avoid impurity, greed, coarse jesting, “but rather give thanks.”
  • “Thanksgiving is the antidote for an impure heart...when I need to give thanks the most is when I feel it the least.” (15:30)
  • Discusses the biblical idea of the “sacrifice of thanksgiving”—thanking God even when it's hard.

4. The Power of Gratitude in Leadership and Adversity

[22:00 - 37:00]

• Kris shares personal hardship during COVID, the California fires, and family loss:
  • “COVID happened, it took my experience to a whole nother level...my daughter went through a divorce while we were in the middle of COVID. It was dark. It was really dark.” (27:50)
  • “Leaders don’t have the privilege of going to work afraid. Fear is a contagious virus that spreads through speech, infecting the imagination and slowly poisoning the soul.” (32:25)
• Kris describes battling overwhelming anxiety by practicing intentional gratitude.

5. Practical Application: The Daily Practice of Thanksgiving

[37:10 - 45:40]

• The Lord instructs Kris: “I want you to write three things down that you’re thankful for.”
  • Initially, Kris struggles to list even one thing.
  • Over 30 days, he documents 90 things for which he is thankful, feeling depression and dread lift partway through.
  • “Around day 15, something lifted. I could feel it lift.” (41:15)
  • “Feelings follow action...when you act thankful, thankfulness grows.” (16:30)
  • Uses the “Rocky” movie as a metaphor for getting back up with gratitude.

6. Remembering God’s Faithfulness: Testimonies

[45:45 - 54:40]

• Shares vivid stories of God’s provision and miracles in his life:
  • Miracle of his mother's healing from psoriasis after a prayer as a teenager. (47:20)
  • Dodging the Vietnam War draft after Nixon ends it in 1973. (49:10)
  • IRS problem resolved by a chance encounter with the head of the department. (50:15)
  • Provision of a house they couldn’t afford, confirmed by a supernatural sign of sunlight. (52:30)
  • His daughter’s miraculous healing from epilepsy. (53:25)
• “Something happens when you start remembering what the Lord did for you. It changes your mindset—not just what you think but the way you think.” (54:25)

7. Prophetic Ministry and Words of Knowledge

[55:00 - 01:18:00]

• Kris transitions into personal prophecy for audience members, calling out what he senses for various people:
  • E.g., Over a man in pink/salmon: “I saw the word wise counselor over you...for people who have money and people who are in trouble.” (56:20)
  • “Sir, you’re not a retired general, you’re a refired general...the Lord says, I’m bringing you back into the battle.” (57:20)
  • To a woman named Sarah: “I see you laying foundations that are unshakable...the Lord has given you spirit-led strategies for how to break the back of poverty.” (01:01:05)
• Words involving healing (neck injury from car accidents) and people online, including someone named Greg. (01:13:20)
• Encourages people receiving prophetic words and calls others to step forward for prayer.

8. Testimony of Transformation: A 40-Day Journal

[01:18:40 - 01:20:20]

• Kris previews his upcoming book, Deliver Us from Evil, a 40-day journal to escape fear, anxiety, and depression.
  • “If you can change the way you think for 40 days, you can change your life forever.” (01:19:40)

9. Invitation and Prayer for Salvation

[01:20:25 – End]

• Invites listeners to receive Jesus:
  • “I saw this shower, and it was washing away all of your anxiety and all of your shame and all of your guilt.” (01:22:00)
  • Prays for those in the room and online seeking to know the Lord.
  • “Beauty comes from ashes...over the next 45 days, the Lord’s gonna turn around your ashes.” (01:22:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the function of gratitude:
  • “Thanksgiving is the Prozac of the Spirit.” (13:45)
  • “When I need to give thanks the most is when I feel it the least.” (16:00)
  • “Complaining is to the devil what praise is to God.” — Attributed to Bill Johnson (19:45)
• Leadership and fear:
  • “Fear is a contagious virus that spreads through speech, infecting the imagination and slowly poisoning the soul.” (32:25)
  • “Leaders don’t have the privilege of going to work afraid.” (33:00)
• On opposition and prayer for authorities:
  • “Is it possible that leaders we don't like, we stop praying for, and it’s worse than it would be if we would have [prayed]?” (20:00)
• On transformation by gratitude:
  • “When you act thankful, thankfulness grows.” (41:35)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|--------------| | Kris’ gratitude inoculation dream | 02:00 – 06:30 | | Biblical teachings on gratitude | 07:00 – 14:30 | | The “sacrifice” of thanksgiving | 14:30 – 20:45 | | Leading through adversity (COVID/fires) | 22:00 – 37:00 | | The practical gratitude journal habit | 37:10 – 45:40 | | Remembering God’s miracles/testimonies | 45:45 – 54:40 | | Prophetic ministry and healing words | 55:00 – 01:18:00 | | Preview of 40-day transformation journal | 01:18:40 – 01:20:20 | | Call to salvation and closing prayers | 01:20:25 – End |

Tone and Style

• Kris speaks with warmth, humor, and transparency, sharing personal stories with humility and wit.
• The message combines scriptural teaching, life application, practical exercises, and supernatural ministry in an encouraging and faith-building manner.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking the core themes and teaching from Kris Vallotton’s “The Power of Gratitude” sermon (Jan 23, 2025).