We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning.
While it may seem a bit elemental, are you ever just thankful for God? I’m certainly not often enough. We regularly thank Him for what He provides and what He does for us, but the root of all that we are thankful for rests in God alone and who He is. He is the starting point. He is a living being who desires a relationship with us…those that He has lovingly created for specific purposes, those whose lives He has carefully planned and those whose righteousness has been purchased with the death of His only Son. If we took the time to consider His attributes, His care and His concern for us, wouldn’t our souls be overwhelmed with thankfulness for our Creator…Father, Son and Holy Spirit? The reasons that we can and should be thankful for our God are innumerable and exceed the scope of our awareness in this life, yet scripture is still full of so many details that we can comprehend and appreciate. Consequently, for this post, I have selected a sampling of passages that speak to Our Lord’s character as well as a few of the reasons that we should fall on our knees in awe and be thankful for our God and our relationship with Him.
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The Christian who walks with the Lord and keeps constant communion with Him will see many reason for rejoicing and thanksgiving all day long.
Most people are fairly comfortable being thankful for God’s provisions and for the people in their lives. While we may not feel that our circumstances are quite as perfect as those depicted in Norm Rockwell’s “Freedom from Want”, we can generally muster a fairly strong attitude of thankfulness. Certainly when we feel that things are going relatively well, we are filled with thankfulness, but what about when the times are tough. Thanksgiving of 1992 I woke up in the hospital after having an ERCP the previous day. I was in pain and groggy; I barely remember celebrating the holiday, let alone being thankful.
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The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.
The call to live and to die well especially in the face of adversity, i.e. according to God’s will, has at least three purposes: it strengthens our relationship with our Lord, it provides us a better quality of life and it strengthens the body of Christ. With respect to the latter, sometimes we learn from studying scripture and sometimes we learn from and are encouraged by watching others as they live by faith. For this post, rather than presenting a discussion of the precepts that encourage healthy relationships for which we can be thankful, I’d like to present evidence of God working through the body of Christ.
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Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.
Our pastor kindly reminded our congregation this past Sunday that there were 57 days until Christmas. I find that challenging for a few reasons. First, there seems to be so much that “needs” to be done to prepare. Second, my health issues regularly make it a challenge to face a “normal” day, let alone the additional activity that surrounds a holiday…or two very close together. Finally, there is the mental hurdle…many of us facing challenges and trials will find it difficult to enjoy the holiday season let alone be thankful and joyful. Yet as Christians we are called to be both at all times. As those of us in the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving this month, I will be focusing November posts on various reasons why we should be thankful. This week, I would like to reflect on God’s provision for us.
“I recall hearing something: a boy who lived in a box by the trash heap said ‘You westerners are the ones we can’t understand. God has given you so much, you have been so blessed …why are so many in your country so unhappy?’” This quote is from the book “When God Weeps” by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes. Joni is recalling the statement spoken by boy who lived in a dump in Ghana as they left a joyful time of praise celebrated by those lived there following the distribution of some wheelchairs. Sadly it’s true.
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There should be a parallel between our supplications and our thanksgivings. We ought not to leap in prayer, and limp in praise.
This week Thanksgiving is being celebrated across the United States. The day has been set aside to thank God for His provisions and mercies. However, as we approach the day, we hear more about food, football, sales and traveling rather than we do about giving thanks to God. When the concept of being thankful is brought up, it’s usually in terms of a general attitude rather than focusing on the one to whom we give thanks.
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