What is thanksgiving to you?
Do you celebrate it because of the food?
For the time with family and friends?
Is the history of how thanksgiving came about shared on this day?
When people once gathered to give thanks for the multitude of provisions met that year a feast was able to be had. A gathering of different people groups to share in a common joy!
A heart of thanks
Rejoice always.
Pray without ceasing.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God, In Christ Jesus, for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks in all circumstances…
Are you a person who does a daily thankful exercise?
Whether you write down 3 things you’re thankful for daily.
Or say highs/lows at the end of the day.
Possibly you bring to the Lord a prayer of thanksgiving your daily gratitude.
I think it’s something we could all use a little more of these days.
Giving thanks for what we have brings about a heart of thankfulness vs. discontentment.
Literally it’s proven that having thankfulness will benefit your overall health!
Intercession and Thanksgiving
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.
1Timothy 2:1-4
I love study bibles because they give extra little tidbits to reflect on. My NIV study bible says Paul based his instruction about prayer for all people on his conviction that God’s invitation for salvation extends equally to all people, whether we agree on politics or not. The phrase all people captures the heart of the gospel. The world that God loves includes every person, even cruel dictators and terrorists (John 3:16). He loves us as individuals whom he knows intimately (Psalm 139:13-18). Our earnest prayers for others – whoever they are – will have powerful results (James 5:16)
This thanksgiving holiday I am grateful to be away from the United States. We are praying for our nation as divided and broken as it currently is. We know who wins the war, but there is a lot of brokenness between the here and now until the last day. All we can do is send up petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving, for all people, until that day comes. This is true for many places throughout the world today as well, it’s a broken world.
Thankful for Inclusion
Thanksgiving is a holiday of Inclusion, what if we lived every day attempting to include one more person?
Above I loved the study bible part that says: “The world that God loves includes every person, and that He loves us as individuals whom he knows intimately” / I do have to note here, that in order to know God, one must also not reject God. You won’t know him intimately unless you open the door (the proverbial door that is your life) when he knocks, and He is knocking.
Most of my life, I have spent being included by all groups of people, for that I am thankful. I have been able to make friends and have these friends accept me where I was. Only once did I feel excluded, and sadly enough it was within the church.
I pray that we the church learn to include without Judgement and let God do the rest.
Also, prayers for those who aren’t Christian and have maybe been turned off by a Christian or a church, that you may recognize them (the Christian or the church) as an equally broken person in need of love and inclusion. I pray for our country and its leaders this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the many opportunities I’ve lived in this life, there are many privileges that come from being an American, yet Americans can take that privilege for granted.
This Thanksgiving
May we recognize what we are thankful for. Include someone in our thankfulness and share the joy and wealth that comes with this Thanksgiving. Share it with someone who may need something to be thankful for. Someone who may just need to sit with a friend or hear a prayer said on their behalf. Lastly, I pray we recognize that there is a devil, and he was sent to cause all the division in this life.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
I pray for your life this thanksgiving friend, that you take stock of all the beautiful gifts, the struggles, the joy and sadness that has been your life, and know that in all of it, you, YOU where fearfully and wonderfully made.