This week, before we bustle about preparing the feast and planning holiday shopping, let’s focus our hearts on what Thanksgiving is truly about! Gratitude is often missing in the lives of God’s people. We express our thanks to each other and even thank God for blessing when we pray to Him, but true heartfelt thanksgiving is supposed to be a part of every Christian’s daily life.
“Thank you! I appreciate that! Thanks! Thank you very much.”
We learn at an early age to say, “thank you” and be grateful for things given to us or done for us. But as we get older, often times those little words become habit, which is good, but we need to be aware that true thanksgiving starts in the heart of a person. The Bible commands us to be thankful. It’s not optional, but we treat it so lightly. Thankfulness should permeate all we say and do. God’s Word teaches that thanksgiving is to be a part of our daily Christian walk in 4 specific areas.
A Heart of Thanksgiving
PRAISE Him with Thanksgiving.
“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with Psalms.” Psalm 95:2
Take time each day to praise the Lord and be thankful for all He is and all that he does. – not just saying grace before each meal or thanking God for the blessing He gives – though it’s important to do both, but to praise Him and be thankful for the wonderful God that He is!
PRAY with Thanksgiving.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6
As we pray we need to remember to be thankful for the blessing of coming to God with all of our needs and requests. Aren’t we blessed to have a God that tells us that He hears us and will answer us?
WORSHIP with Thanksgiving.
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4
Every time I come to church I am just amazed at all God has done for our church family. Not only has he brought two wonderful churches and put them together. He has met all of the needs of our church and blessed us abundantly and he has given us each other! I’m not sure about you, but there are many time that I can’t wait to go to church just to be with my brothers and sisters in Christ and worship God together! We have so much to thank God for, don’t we?
WITNESS with Thanksgiving.
“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” Psalm 26:7
There’s nothing like “word of mouth” advertising is there? Have you ever seen someone wearing an outfit you love or sporting a hairstyle you’d like to have? Have you then asked that person where they got the outfit or who their hair stylist is? As Christians we are to be just like that. Others around us should seen what Jesus has done in our lives and hear our testimonies and want Christ in their lives. When we witness by giving thanks for all God has done for us it leaves an impression on those who hear it.
This Thanksgiving let’s do things a little differently! Not just being thankful for all of the wonderful blessings, but let’s truly celebrate Thanksgiving in our Hearts!