This week we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. It’s a time to gather with loved ones over a meal and reflect on God’s providence as the pilgrim settlers of this country did with native Americans several centuries ago in 1621. Over the years people continued the tradition. In 1863 during a devastating civil war, United States president Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday hoping it would help bring much needed unity. Thanksgiving has been recognized annually ever since. However, thanksgiving did not start in America, nor is it limited to our country. Thanksgiving goes back to the first family created. The Bible talks about Cain and Abel giving thanks to God for his blessing of livestock and crops. Ever since people from every nation give thanks in various ways. What are you thankful for and who do you thank? It’s vital to your well being to understand the source of your blessings and to be grateful for them.
Every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). He created you and loves you. He wants you to be a part of his family and has done everything through Jesus, God the Son, to make that possible. Anyone who trusts and obeys Jesus can become a child of God and experience his everlasting life and abundant provision (John 1:1-4, 14). So it is right and fitting to thank God. No wonder the psalmist declares, “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!” (Psalm 92:1-5). Also, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).
Giving thanks to God is not only right, but it’s also good for you. It reduces stress and depression. It boosts your energy and optimism. It improves your relationships by strengthening your bonds to God and people. Not only does it benefit you, but giving thanks steers you away from the dangers of being unable to discern the truth, of hardening your heart, and of focusing on yourself instead of God and others. The apostle Paul warned about this, “For although they [faithless people] knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21). Humble yourself before God and he will help you turn any bitterness, blindness, and selfishness into gratitude, wisdom, and altruism.
Here are some practical ways to do that:
- Thank God for who he is. God is the all powerful and all knowing eternal creator and sustainer of the universe (Nehemiah 9:6; John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-4). Yet he is personal, good, and kind. His love knows no limits. He is slow to anger and readily forgives. He is gracious and merciful, keeping no record of wrongs. He does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, provides, and restores. He always has your best interest in mind and never fails you. He is uniquely worthy of all praise (Psalm 145; 1 John 4:8-10; 1 Corinthians 1: 4-8).
- Thank God for his providence. Not only is God magnificent, but he benevolently uses his righteousness, power, and wisdom to provide for his creation, including you and me. God loves everyone, even those who rebel and work against him. In a variety of ways he graciously blesses those who don’t even care about him (John 3:16; Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 5:8; 2 Peter 3:9). For those who do love him, at the right time and in his perfect way he brings everything together for good, including trials, difficulties, suffering, and loss (Romans 8:28).
- Thank God for how he is changing you to be like Jesus. God made you to be with him, to be like him, and to do what he does. Your sin and selfish-centered rebellion keeps you from that (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23, 6:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Hebrews 6:4-6). Fortunately, Jesus, God the Son, can restore anyone who trusts and obeys him back into a loving relationship with God (John 3:16; Romans 10:1-13). The process can be painful, for it requires you to deny yourself (Luke 9:23). Yet the trials and hardships God allows in your life are to mature your character, train you in righteousness, and deepen your relationship with him. They also enable you to empathize, comfort, and minister to others so they can come to know God better (1 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21). With a grateful heart allow God to transform you into the likeness of Jesus even though it may hurt at times.
With God’s help, make thanksgiving a daily lifestyle and perpetual outlook. Appreciate God. Be grateful for others and build them up with the love and truth of God. “Be filled with the Spirit [of God], addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-21). When situations or relationships are challenging, know that God will bring good out of them. Persevere and stay positive. “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).