What are you thankful for?
No really, take a moment to think about that question.
Maybe write down those things that come to mind.
Pause.
Reflect.
For me…
I am thankful for my faith, my family, my home.
I am thankful for the smell of freshly made chocolate chip cookies after dinner.
I am thankful for the rain and my fireplace.
I am thankful for the holidays and the many “framily” gatherings it brings.
I am thankful for good food and God’s provision.
I am thankful for my son and his obsession with buzz lightyear.
I am thankful for my daughter and her joy.
I am thankful for my husband and the way he takes out the trash every Tuesday night.
I am thankful for my parents (now grandparents) that watch my kiddos every week.
I am thankful for kind neighbors.
I could go on.
There are so many things to be thankful for. Thanksgiving should be a regular part of our worship and routine. When we praise God continually, we won’t take His blessings for granted.
1 Chronicles 16:8-11 (ESV)
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
In this “Psalm (song) of Thanks” written by David, he encourages the people of his kingdom to give thanks to the Lord and make known his deeds. When God’s goodness shines through in our own lives, we should tell someone! Genuine praise happens when we declare God’s character and attributes in the presence of others.
That is why I love our time of singing on Sundays. It is a time to declare God’s goodness and faithfulness together with fellow believers. It is a time to give credit where credit is due. To God be the glory!
Switching gears… maybe you can’t think of anything to be thankful for. Maybe you have had a horrible year/month/week and you can’t see a way out. Even so, praise benefits us because it shifts our minds from our problems and focuses us on God… his power, mercy, majesty, and love. Thanksgiving is selfless, and although our circumstances bring us down, praise can bring us up. Let this Psalm be your prayer...
Psalm 28:6-7 (ESV)
Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
In closing, I offer a CHALLENGE OF TRUE THANKSGIVING:
Remember what God has done. (Again, what are you thankful for? Write it down!)
Tell someone about it. (At church on Sunday, In a small group, With your friends)
Offer gifts of self, time and resources. (How can you give back?)
If we are truly thankful, our lives will show it. Let’s be a generation that is more than just talk. Let our actions represent a beautiful picture of Jesus so that more people will come to know Him!