Think twice about Thanksgiving
As I watched the trees and foliage change colors the past few weeks, it brings about one of my favorite times of year, deer season. It is also a reminder that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and so I have been thinking and writing about gratitude lately. What is it? When should we show it? What does God say about it? In the bible Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5: 18, In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Most read that verse and think it rather nice, But when you challenge yourself to think twice about the “in every thing, as we go about our day. In reality, most of us are thankful for very little. It is our human nature to focus on the wants, needs, desires, don’t haves and they haves and must haves, Than what we got.
It is important to also notice what the bible does not say or command us to feel thankful in all circumstances. Instead it commands us to “give thanks in every thing, all circumstances.” When I begin to praise God in a difficult situation, even if I do not feel like it, many times the scales fall from my eyes and I begin to see glimpses of His glory sprinkled on the black backdrop of my situation like diamonds in black sand. Sometimes we do not see glory in tragedy, but we still can praise God because we know He is there. Gratitude changes the lens through which we see the circumstances in our little slice of time. Thanksgiving changes our perspective despite broken dreams, broken relationships, tumultuous circumstances like we are currently experiencing in the world today.
As we praise God for who He is and thank Him for what He has done, our perspective of Him grows larger and our problems grow smaller. As a result, we will experience a deeper sense of intimacy, joy and peace with God as the emotional gap between what we know to be true and how we feel at the moment. On many occasions in the Psalms, David complained about his circumstances But more often than not, about midway through David’s complaint, he begins praising God for who He is and thanking God for what He has done. And you know what happens? All of a sudden David starts feeling better! Life is not so bad after all! We can be just like David, our problems grow smaller as our perspective of God grows larger, and we begin to see God’s glory shining through our situation. Just like David, we too can shift from depression to rejoicing. We do not have to wait until God changes a situation, solves our problem, or makes us feel better before we should begin thanking Him. One final thought that I have learned as I have gotten older is when I stop complaining and grumbling and begin speaking God’s word and promise language with gratitude, my perspective will always change. I begin seeing His glory and precious promises that were there all along, but hidden from my grumbling eye and attitude.
Perhaps you or you may know someone this year who is having trouble finding good in life. Look no further than Jesus. He never changes. Despite everything you might be facing, you can rejoice in Him. You can give thanks for Him and His love and care for you. You can give thanks that He promised to work all things together for good. We must train ourselves to give thanks in everything. Remember, a sacrifice of thanksgiving brings honor to the Lord. Thank Him for the trials we are facing. Thank Him for that sorrow. He will always use our thanks for His glory and our ultimate good! Make it a great day for yourself and someone else as we live to love and share Jesus with others.
Psalms 100
1 (A Psalm of praise.) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
2 Corinthians 4: 14-16
14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.