As followers of Christ, we celebrate this day uniquely from the culture around us. The United States as a whole is actually unique in having this holiday. We are the only country around the world that sets aside a specific day for giving thanks. Initially, President Lincoln instated Thanksgiving as a day to thank God for the provision with which He has greatly blessed America. Today, though most of our country spends less time focusing on God, everyone still enjoys the holiday, spends time with family and friends, and takes that moment to reflect on all that they have to be grateful for. As Christians, however, we are in the unique position of being in direct relationship with God, to whom we can direct our thanks, and in whom we can more deeply understand and appreciate the provision He is constantly giving us. As we approach this holiday, we encourage you to take the time to dwell on God’s incredible provision, and the abundant blessing that a life with Him truly is!
Blessing in restoration.
God has blessed us all in so many ways. While those blessings may take different forms in each our individual lives, we all share in the incredible blessing of restoration that God has promised to all who choose to walk with Him. Let’s spend some time reflecting on the blessing we experience in His restoration.
Colossians 1:9-14, 19-20
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
As we think of giving thanks to the Father, we first must recognize and be thankful for the privilege we have in the forgiveness that comes from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, He granted each of us forgiveness of sin, so that we can experience a relationship with Him. Within this relationship, we are able to pray to Him and seek His will. Verses 19 & 20 use the word ‘reconcile’, or ‘restore’. The Greek word here means ‘to restore back to the original condition’. This original condition is the Covenant, through which God blesses us to be a blessing. Through the Covenant, we are in a continual process of being restored back to the beautiful things God created us to experience.
The purpose of our thanksgiving is to recognize and be grateful for where we are in the process of restoration, knowing that it is a process, and that we are continually being restored back to the beautiful things of the covenant. Furthermore, we can have complete trust that God will restore us! Our role, as we pray together in thanksgiving, is to reflect on what we are thankful for now, and to seek His will for what is next. Be thankful, and then look to God to further provide the grand and abundant life in His restoration process.
Experiencing a peaceful Thanksgiving among difficult people.
While we may find it easy to thank God for all the good He has done in our lives, there is no denying that, for many of us, Thanksgiving can be a time of trial. Spending time with family often comes with unwanted tension, and that tension can make it difficult to thoroughly enjoy this day. How can we get our hearts into a place where we can enjoy Thanksgiving, despite the difficulties of personal relationships?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
In verse 17, pray without ceasing refers to that continual dialogue with God. We are to be speaking to God about all the things we face throughout our day, and we are to give thanks for all of it. That’s all things—everything you are involved in. Every good gift is from the Father (James 1:17). Focus on the good, enjoy it, and be thankful all the time for that goodness you get to experience. Don’t engage in the negative things that come up. The Enemy wants to drag you into the argument and pull you into battle and difficulty. When somebody pushes a button, pray that you don’t respond to it. Sometimes holidays can be frustrating just because of the dynamics. Work hard to realize you don’t need to say anything. If you can allow yourself to let it go, you start to enjoy the holiday more, and it has an effect on everyone around you. As you find joy, everyone else starts to enjoy the day more too, and the whole experience becomes much more pleasant!
Even in the difficulty, be thankful in everything. Our thanksgiving is to God. It’s not based on what you feel, or what others do, but on who God is and what He has done in our lives this year. When you can focus on that, everything else starts to become much less important. Be sure to take some time apart with God this Thanksgiving, recalling His faithfulness and being thankful to Him for all He has done. This will set your heart in a place where you recognize His grace and love in your life, and it is from that flowthrough position that you will be able to love even the most difficult of people who step through your doors.
Remember, every good gift is from the Lord, and we are privileged to receive it. May you truly be thankful, and may this holiday be a day of wonder and joy for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
