“Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” Jeremiah 33:11b.
If you are in the United States this week, no doubt, you’re preparing for Thanksgiving Day. Perhaps you’re buying a turkey or thawing one previously bought. You may be gathering ingredients for dressing or stuffing, a vegetable or potato dish, and that special dessert. Perhaps your Day is one for family and friends mingling around a bountiful feast. Or you may enjoy a quiet day with a modest meal, reservations at a favorite restaurant, or a morning spent volunteering to serve those less fortunate.
However you celebrate, one cannot escape that this Thursday is Thanksgiving Day; after all, advertisements, commercials, and even sports connects the Day with sales, shopping, and football. Christians realize it’s a Day to give thanks to God Almighty, and not simply to each other or some unnamed force. But if we’re not careful Thanksgiving Day, and even its focus on gratitude, can lead us astray.
While we understand the need for possessing an “attitude of gratitude” we’re tempted to pour out our thanks on that day only. This can lead to the idea that feeling thankful is simply a one-time or one-day event. The Bible encourages so much more.
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. “But we should always give thanks to God . . . ,” 2 Thessalonians 2:13a.
If I give thanks for everything all the time then am I not constantly offering “thank yous” to God? Yes! I must possess a thankful heart every day, not just the last Thursday of November!
“I will give You thanks with all my heart,” Psalm 138:1a.
I must be whole-hearted about giving thanks!
“And in that day you will say, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted,” Isaiah 12:4.
My thanks must be directed to the True Source of all –The Lord God Almighty!
Blessings of constant and conscious thankfulness! Prayer requests? Email me (See below).
“Dear Lord, with my mouth let me continually give thanks abundantly to You and in the midst of many let me praise You forever (Psalm 109:30). Thank you, Jesus, AMEN.”
How and for what will you thank God today . . . and every day?
Trading Thanksgiving for Thanks-living on All My Days, PJ COPYRIGHT ©2015 PJ Gover
PJ.Gover@yahoo.com http://www.PJGover.com (blog) http://www.citygirlgoincountry.wordpress.com http://4homestore.com/devotionalbook.html (PJ’s devotional book)
Filed under: Practical Christianity Tagged: Is Thanksgiving dangerous to spiritual health?, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving lifestyle, Thanksgiving vs Thanks-living
