Charles Dickens once said that we are somewhat mixed up here in America. He told an audience that “instead of having one Thanksgiving Day each year we should have 364 “days of thanksgiving.” Use that one day just for complaining and griping,” he said. “Use the other 364 days to thank God for the many blessings He has showered upon you.”
As Dickens suggested, we should not wait for a special holiday to express our gratitude to God. Instead, thanksgiving should be a part of our daily lives. In fact the bible is very clear that thanksgiving is perhaps one of the most vital characteristics of any child of God. And there’s good reason for that. Look with me if you will at Romans 1:18-25 (NIV).
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
As we just read, failing to glorify and give thanks to God for all He has created can cause our “hearts to be darkened.” Today as you sit around the table ask each person to take a minute and share what they are thankful for. You may be surprise. Sinner or saint everyone usually has something they are thankful for. Set the atmosphere for God to work in by glorifying God and giving Him thanks. Let the spirit of God move in your heart and as He moves you may be a witness to the power and presence of God. Nothing is impossible for God. No heart is so far from Him that He cannot reach them.
Psalm 22:13 (KJV) “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
Want God to pull up a chair at your table? Praise Him and He will come. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
As Dickens suggested, we should not wait for a special holiday to express our gratitude to God. Instead, thanksgiving should be a part of our daily lives. In fact the bible is very clear that thanksgiving is perhaps one of the most vital characteristics of any child of God. And there’s good reason for that. Look with me if you will at Romans 1:18-25 (NIV).
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
As we just read, failing to glorify and give thanks to God for all He has created can cause our “hearts to be darkened.” Today as you sit around the table ask each person to take a minute and share what they are thankful for. You may be surprise. Sinner or saint everyone usually has something they are thankful for. Set the atmosphere for God to work in by glorifying God and giving Him thanks. Let the spirit of God move in your heart and as He moves you may be a witness to the power and presence of God. Nothing is impossible for God. No heart is so far from Him that He cannot reach them.
Psalm 22:13 (KJV) “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
Want God to pull up a chair at your table? Praise Him and He will come. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
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