A family had invited some new friends over for dinner. At the table, the mother turned to her six year old daughter and said, “Would you like to say the blessing?” “I wouldn’t know what to say,” she replied. “Just say what you hear mommy say.” The little girl bowed her head and said, “Dear Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?”
I’m sure as you are reading this, like me, you are laughing at the uncomfortable picture of this family at the dinner table. It does make you think what would be repeated from your own mouth. Would it be thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is awareness of who God is and what He has done.
It does not mean we don’t recognize that there are difficulties in life. But it does mean we stand upon a greater reality. God is on the throne and deserves praise!
“and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
For Christians, Thanksgiving is not the only time to give thanks. Rather for us, it is a lifestyle. Life is temporary, and with all the worrying you can muster up you can’t add to your life. Truthfully, this is a waste of time and hinders the flow of God’s power and Kingdom reality in your life. Don’t forget that God wants to do something through you! Stand on the Word, which de-programs us from what the world thinks! We have to embrace the promise before we see it!
Thanksgiving is a prelude to power.
When we ask God for things, we ask with thanksgiving. When we do that, His power becomes readily available to us in all situations and circumstances.
The first thing and only thing Jesus did with the loaves and fish was to give thanks. He never commented about lack. He disciplined Himself to not put words to those thoughts. Power came and multiplied the loaves and fish. We see a habit in the life of Jesus that is very rare today. Thanksgiving! He lifted His eyes, gave thanks, and heaven responded. He thanked His Father for 5 loaves of bread and fish. Heaven responded and fed 5000 men plus woman and children. That was a visitation, not an intervention. There was no great noise or earthquake. The miracle came in 12 baskets with doggy bags to go!
The Bible is full of stories filled with the power of thanksgiving. Another powerful story is that of Lazarus. Lazarus dies and Jesus says in John 11:41 “Father, I thank you for you have heard me.”
Gratitude will resurrect a dead body to life.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.”
Be anxious for nothing. That is what Jesus did. You can’t access His hotline without thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude. With all that God has done for us, ingratitude is inappropriate for a believer. Thanksgiving comes even before obedience. Obedience is important, but we enter His courts with thanksgiving.
May your life not just be filled with thanksgiving on a dedicated holiday one day a year, but may you be marked as someone filled with gratitude and thanksgiving to God.
Gratitude will change the atmosphere of your home, work, and school. It will radically impact your life.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Scott