During this season, I petition every reader to take a deeper look into how we as Christians should be celebrating Thanksgiving. We know there is an American History story tied to the Holiday of Thanksgiving (click here for more information) but for Christians we should, like everyday, take this day to really reflect on God's grace and mercy in our lives. We should cloak ourselves in a spirit of gratitude for where we are AND where we aren't. As the old saying goes, there is someone, somewhere you has it worse than you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reads, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
You are reading this article, so thank God for your sight. You have electricity to power your computer on an internet service you've paid for (or you have access to); thank God for provision to acquire it all. Your current situation may not be ideal or you may feel like you're at the brink of destruction but thank God you are able to be victorious through Christ Jesus.
Psalm 100:4: "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name."
So how exactly are we supposed to give thanks to God?
- Give thanks to Him in prayer. I like to open my prayer with thanking Him for who He is. I acknowledge that I could do nothing without Him in my life. During prayer time, I also thank Him for sending His only Son to die for my sins that I may be restored in relationship to God the Father. Psalm 138:2, "I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame."
- Repent of our sins. We should never take God's grace for granted. We can't keep sinning and go on with life as usual. Repent means to turn from whatever the immoral act(s) is/are. Acts 2:38 says Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Obey His commandments. I'm not referring to the commandments of the Old Testament. We as New Testament believers are no longer under the curse of the law. However, in Matthew 22:37-40, the Word says, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
- Serve others. While serving God, we can be of service to others. Jesus stated in Matthew 25:40, "And the King shall answer and say unto them, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Another profound scripture is Matthew 5:16 which reads, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." This passage is one of the reasons volunteering and financially supporting charities is so important to me.
