Thanksgiving Day
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.”
We should not wait for a special holiday to express our gratitude to God. Instead, thanksgiving should be a part of our daily lives. The bible is very clear that thanksgiving is perhaps one of the most vital characteristics of any child of God.
Benefits of Thanksgiving:
1. Thanksgiving magnifies the Lord (Psalms 69:30).
When your problems appear too big for you, start declaring the praises of God, singing and giving thanks to
Him for who He is, and you will begin to see that God is much bigger than your problems.
2. Thanksgiving leads us into the presence of the Lord (Psalms 100:4)
When you don’t know where you are in your life, begin thanking and praising God and you will soon find yourself within His courts. There’s no greater blessing than to be with the Lord. The promise of God for those who dwell in His presence: we will experience the fullness of joy (Psalms 16:11), our strength will be renewed (Isaiah 40:31), and we will find rest (Exodus 33:14).
3. Thanksgiving makes the Lord famous (Psalms 105:1)
“Sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing” (Psalm 107.22). Giving thanks to the Lord declares to the world that our God is both mighty and merciful, full of wonderful works and powerful deeds.
4. Thanksgiving prepares the way for blessing.
One day Jesus had five thousand mouths to feed, but resources were slim—five loaves and two fishes. Five minutes earlier, He didn’t even have that. But it was no problem because He approached it with faith. Taking the loaves and fishes, He gave thanks to God, then distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them out to the people. Expressing His faith through thanksgiving, Jesus was able to feed everyone there—not only was there enough to go around, but there were twelve baskets of left- overs (John 6.1–13).
5. Thanksgiving prepares the way for the peace of God.
Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4.6,7). A heart filled with thanksgiving is a heart filled
with God’s peace and wholeness.
Thankfulness is a home for Holy Spirit. Thankfulness provides right atmosphere for God’s Spirit to move and do whatever pleases Him. Are you willing to let God’s Spirit to move and operate in your life? Thankful heart is the key to your transformation.
Giving thanks is a powerful thing. Working together with faith, prayer, joy and praise, thanksgiving honors and glorifies God, and prepares the way for His peace and blessing in our lives. Are you ready?
We should not wait for a special holiday to express our gratitude to God. Instead, thanksgiving should be a part of our daily lives. The bible is very clear that thanksgiving is perhaps one of the most vital characteristics of any child of God.
Benefits of Thanksgiving:
1. Thanksgiving magnifies the Lord (Psalms 69:30).
When your problems appear too big for you, start declaring the praises of God, singing and giving thanks to
Him for who He is, and you will begin to see that God is much bigger than your problems.
2. Thanksgiving leads us into the presence of the Lord (Psalms 100:4)
When you don’t know where you are in your life, begin thanking and praising God and you will soon find yourself within His courts. There’s no greater blessing than to be with the Lord. The promise of God for those who dwell in His presence: we will experience the fullness of joy (Psalms 16:11), our strength will be renewed (Isaiah 40:31), and we will find rest (Exodus 33:14).
3. Thanksgiving makes the Lord famous (Psalms 105:1)
“Sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing” (Psalm 107.22). Giving thanks to the Lord declares to the world that our God is both mighty and merciful, full of wonderful works and powerful deeds.
4. Thanksgiving prepares the way for blessing.
One day Jesus had five thousand mouths to feed, but resources were slim—five loaves and two fishes. Five minutes earlier, He didn’t even have that. But it was no problem because He approached it with faith. Taking the loaves and fishes, He gave thanks to God, then distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them out to the people. Expressing His faith through thanksgiving, Jesus was able to feed everyone there—not only was there enough to go around, but there were twelve baskets of left- overs (John 6.1–13).
5. Thanksgiving prepares the way for the peace of God.
Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4.6,7). A heart filled with thanksgiving is a heart filled
with God’s peace and wholeness.
Thankfulness is a home for Holy Spirit. Thankfulness provides right atmosphere for God’s Spirit to move and do whatever pleases Him. Are you willing to let God’s Spirit to move and operate in your life? Thankful heart is the key to your transformation.
Giving thanks is a powerful thing. Working together with faith, prayer, joy and praise, thanksgiving honors and glorifies God, and prepares the way for His peace and blessing in our lives. Are you ready?
