Thanksgiving (a devotional)

 

Thanksgiving - Read Ephesians 5:1-21

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 5:20

The United States government has set aside a day to thank God for the many blessings He has given.  We should be thankful for such a day, but we shouldn't wait until Thanksgiving Day to be thankful.  Every day should be a day of thanksgiving for us.  Even though we suffer afflictions and trials, we can thank God for being with us through these things.  We should be especially thankful if we have been saved through Christ's great work at Calvary and we now belong to the family of God.

Sometimes we find ourselves grumbling and complaining about our lot in life.  Perhaps we are surrounded by troubles.  Many people suffer these things, but we should be thankful even if circumstances would cause us to feel otherwise.  One reason is that we owe thanksgiving to God.  "Know 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.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving" (Psalm 100:3-4).

Another reason for thanksgiving is our many blessings.  Some of these are natural: food and water, clothing and shelter, health and strength, and our very breath.  Others are spiritual, such as the Word, the church, and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.  Most of all, we should thank the Lord for being our Redeemer.

Satan is a master at loading people down with cares and worries, but sincere praise to God will work wonders.  God wants us to put on "the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isaiah 61:3).  Maybe we should sing "Count Your Blessings" and actually make a list of things we are thankful for.  Jesus wants to be our guest on Thanksgiving Day and Every day.

Benuel Glick - Palmer, MA

He enjoys much who is thankful for little.

In Australia we don't have a holiday or celebrate Thanksgiving Day.  I do think it's a lovely tradition though.

I guess it gives us the option to celebrate it every day :)

xx