And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
�Colossians 3:17
In 1789, President George Washington designated the first national Thanksgiving Day when he issued a proclamation for "a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God."
In our day, it can be very easy during our feasting to forget about the one we are celebrating on Thanksgiving. And sometimes we forget to give thanks altogether. You may say, "Well, I don't have a lot to give thanks for. I am just not feeling thankful this year." Maybe you are having financial troubles or health problems or there is conflict in your family.
But maybe we need to get things into perspective. The primary reason we were put on this earth as human beings was to glorify God and to give Him thanks. The Bible tells us this again and again. Psalm 107:1 says, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Hebrews 13:15 says, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
Yes, praise and worship can sometimes be a sacrifice because we don't want to do it. And that might be because we are depressed or down or things aren't going that well. It may be that hardship or tragedy has befallen us, and we don't feel like praising God. But the Bible does not say give thanks to the Lord because you feel good. Rather, it says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!" We need to put things into perspective.
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
�1 Thessalonians 5:18
A hospital chaplain kept a record of 2,000 patients he had known who were apparently in a dying condition and had shown signs of repentance. He reported that of those who were restored to health, only two showed what he felt were marked changes in their spiritual lives after their recovery.
In other words, when people thought they were dying, they wanted God's help. But once they had recovered, they forgot about Him. They continued to live the way they wanted to live.
Far too often we ask God for help, but when He gives it, we don't offer Him any thanks in return. What would you think of a person who was always asking for resources and favors and never took the time to thank you? (Actually, I think we call them children.)
It is one thing to give thanks when things are going well, but we can give thanks even when times are hard. Think of David and the beautiful psalms that he penned. One of my favorites is Psalm 63: "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name" (verses 3�4).
We may think David wrote those words while he was kicking back on a beautiful, sunny day. But actually he wrote Psalm 63 when he was in exile in the wilderness, running from his son, Absalom, who wanted to take his throne. In the midst of his anguish and personal pain, he wrote, "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. . . ."
We can praise the Lord in good times, but we can also praise Him in bad times. Are you giving Him the praise that He deserves?
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100
During this season of Thanksgiving let us join King David in giving thanks to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for He is good and His mercies endure forever! Whether you are standing of the mountain top or walking through a deep valley, the Word of God teaches the believer to give thanks to the Lord in all things (Thessalonians 4:18).
Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday. My family use to get together, my father would read a Psalm and we would go around the table and say what each of us was thankful for. My father would pray, we would sing a hymn and eat. When i was young and not walking with the Lord i never could think of much to be thankful for. my life was miserable. Now that i walk with God i have much to be thankful for. Praise God for his provision spiritually, temporally,and physically. we enjoy on a daily basis, but are we thankful daily?
