Thanksgiving, Part 1

15 Nov

Thanksgiving, Part 1

I recently started collecting what I call “Ho-Hum News”. On a slow news day you sometimes find odd and seemingly unimportant news headlines, like this one: “Bear sneaks into California Vineyard for late-night snack of Pinot Noir grapes, surveillance footage shows”.

If the vintner who owns that vineyard is a follower of Christ, it is God’s will, according to Scripture, that he thank God for his loss of high-end grapes to that bear. Recently I forgot this key Christian concept and felt anxious for some weeks as a result. But God reminded me that 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice evermore; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you.”

Have you or a loved one suffered from financial loss like the vintner in the bear story? It is God’s will that you thank Him.
Are you or a loved one in a marriage that is going or gone bad? It is God’s will that you thank Him.
Do you or a loved one have a child gone astray, making ungodly choices and living ungodly lives? It is God’s will that you thank Him.
Have you or a loved one suffered from cancer or another debilitating illness? It is God’s will that you thank Him.
Have you or a loved one had a collision with a drunk driver which left you in permanent pain or taken the life of a loved one? It is God’s will that you thank Him.

1 Thessalonians says “In EVERYTHING give thanks”, not just for the good stuff and the good times.

The Bible uses the word “thanks” in various forms at least 139 times which tells me it is very important to God that we be thankful. We are even given examples of praying that people be thanking Him. One is in Colossians 1:9-13. It is a Scripture passage I frequently pray to God when I am praying for Dan and me, our children, our grandchildren, our pastors, their families, President and Mrs. Trump, their family, and other government leaders.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

Are you burdened by life and have difficulty thanking God? Philippians 4:6-7 tells us “Be anxious for nothing but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

How do you start when you don’t “feel” thankful? Simply and intentionally say “thank you” to God for everything. Eventually it becomes habit. True gratitude develops as our exercise of obedience opens our eyes to God’s hand in every aspect of our lives.