This week the entire nation is going to celebrate Thanksgiving. The funny thing about it is that actually very little giving of thanks to God will get done. We all get so busy preparing, cooking, entertaining, watching football and eating that about the only thanksgiving will be a short prayer before the big meal. We can easily miss the whole point of the holiday, giving thanks to God for what He’s done in our lives. In fact, Thanksgiving can serve as a reminder to us to be thankful the whole year round.
Complaining comes easier than being thankful for all of us. I’ve learned that when I complain a lot, I don’t feel so good, but when I am thankful, my spirits are lifted. I believe that as we each look to God’s Word this Thanksgiving, He can help change each of us into a more thankful person.
So how can we make this Thanksgiving different? It begins with realizing that everything you are and everything you own comes from God. Without God you would have nothing, in fact you wouldn’t even exist. NCV 1 Chron. 29:16 Everything has come from You; everything belongs to You. Everything comes from God, everything belongs to God. NLT John 17:7 Everything I have is a gift from You. So when we ask ourselves the question “What can we be thankful for?” we really have to thank God for everything good that is in our lives.
We can thank God for our health, our homes, our families, our jobs and that is well and good, but some people are struggling in those areas. Many people struggle with health problems, some have lost a job or are having work difficulties, others may be having family struggles. So this morning, I want us to focus on four things that every believer can be thankful for no matter what their circumstance in life. If you’re not yet a believer, these are four things that you can enter into as you begin a relationship with God. Things may be going great in your life or you may be struggling through the worst season of your life, yet you can be thankful for these four things.
When you express your thanks to God, you are pleasing Him because God tells us NCV Eph. 5:20 Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Giving thanks is not just for Thanksgiving, giving thanks is to be a year-round lifestyle.
To hear more about this topic, listen to my November 20, 2005 message entitled Learning To Be Thankful