This is a tough subject for me to give a devotion on because I have this nagging feeling that I don't really know what it means to be thankful. I'm not always sure that I am thankful. I mean, I grew up in a middle class household, had everything I wanted or needed all my life, never missed a meal, went to bed warm and dry every night. I try to cultivate an attitude of thankfulness. I try to remember how privileged I am compared to the rest of the world, but sometimes I think my lack of need makes me ungrateful.
So I started thinking about what true thankfulness really looks like and how you find it. I have been praying about how to talk to you guys about thankfulness and I am totally unqualified so here is what I feel God put on my heart: Part of being a thankful person is practicing thankfulness. It is a good discipline to look at the world around us and find all of our blessings in the seemingly mundane. Realizing the abundant blessings we have is a huge part of being thankful. But there is a deeper thankfulness, a soul and a heart of thankfulness that springs out of being needy. Because here's what struck me: I know for a fact I am thankful for the cross. I know without a doubt I am thankful to my Lord for sending His only son Jesus to die for my sins because I am so needy in this area. I have been made painfully aware of my need for a savior because without Jesus I would not be standing here today. I used to walk in darkness, trying to find any way I could fill that God shaped hole inside my heart. I have always believed in God but the truth of the Gospel - that Jesus Christ came to Earth and died for MY sins - had never reached my heart. You know, you were bought at a price. I was bought at a price. That price was paid for the sins of all mankind - then, now, and forever. When I finally let this gospel message pierce my heart, I realized how needy I was for a savior and I have been ever thankful to Him for forgiving me. The sins in my life were ugly sins that many would find unforgivable. Many are sins I found unforgivable. But the only perfect man to walk this Earth - God in the flesh - took these sins on Himself at the cross at Calvary. I didn't deserve that. But I needed that. So for this I am ever thankful.
But as my day goes on and the kids are whining or the dishwasher breaks or there are piles of laundry, sometimes my thankfulness wanes. And instead of being thankful I become annoyed that I do not have a quiet moment or that I still have to figure out what to make for dinner. What a sad state it is for us Americans, never knowing need and never learning to live thankful lives.
I think how we show thankfulness also proves a lot about what we believe about God. The same way knowing our need for God makes us fall to our knees in prayer, our need of God makes us demonstrate thankfulness in different ways. One is how we love our neighbor. If I know I have been given this great gift of grace, then I will not act as though I have become great on my own. If I truly believe that I am nothing without God then I will treat others as though they are more important than myself. This attitude of thankfulness bleeds into everything we do. We are different in our workplaces because we know our jobs are given by Him. We are different when we are driving bcecause we don't have to get ahead and go faster bc God is getting us where we need to go. An attitude of thankfulness is what helps us submit to God's ways and grow.
Some verses to meditate on this Thanksgiving:
Some verses to meditate on this Thanksgiving:
Ephesians 5:15-20
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:1-6, 8-20 NLT
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Matthew 6:33-34 NLT
Isaiah 55
“Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the LORD’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.””
Isaiah 55:6-13 NLT
Thankfulness not of this world
Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT
God bless & Happy Thanksgiving!
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