Thanksgiving
We will soon be celebrating, (hopefully with family and friends), the holiday of Thanksgiving. It is a wonderful time to come together to share a meal, talk about what has happened this year and probably with some football games playing in the background on the TV. For some folks this may be even more special because the Covid – 19 virus prevented them from gathering last year. But should our celebrating and giving thanks be limited to a once a year? Certainly the apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians while talking about celebrating and worshipping together said to be “always giving thanks for all the things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God” Ephesians 3:20….. and for the church in Thessalonica, he instructed the believers to encourage, be patient and to seek what is good for one another and “in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thessalonians 5:18
It is easy to be thankful when the times in our life are stable and we are happy. But giving thanks during ongoing suffering (physically, mentally, or emotionally) is really difficult and can be overwhelming to the mind, body and our spirit. We can hold onto the words God tells us of His love, grace and mercy. We read, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23 We know the reward, no matter the suffering, is the glory of being with Christ in the kingdom.
Giving thanks to God when we pray is one of the ways we acknowledge His presence in our life. We must be thankful not only for the bounty of the special Thanksgiving meal, but also to be thankful for everything going on in our lives. We honor God when not only with our words, but also our deeds send a clear message that God is in control of our life. Our thankfulness to God needs to be in our hearts and to be expressed in actions and words all the day long. “ And whatever you do in words and deeds do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17
What can happen if we are not thankful for God’s activity in our lives and in this world? Let’s look at that next week…….
A few songs and an early “Happy Thanksgiving”