THANKFULNESS – Acknowledging the fact that everything we have is the result of God and others investing in us.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
When you think of Thanksgiving, you probably think of eating a big turkey meal on the last Thursday of November. It wasn’t always that way. For a long time, the early American settlers celebrated Thanksgiving on different days. Then, a woman named Sarah Hale spent 17 years writing to governors, congressmen, and even Presidents asking them to make Thanksgiving Day a National holiday. Finally, in 1863 (during the Civil War), President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day.
Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is the closest to its original celebration. Just like the pilgrims gathered in the Fall of 1621 to have a feast to praise God for his protection and provision, families all around the country gather around a big meal and consider just how much we do have.
It’s good to set aside a day to give thanks. Many people forget to be thankful for all that they have. Hopefully, Thanksgiving Day is a reminder to them. God, however, wants us to be thankful EVERY DAY. We should have an “attitude of gratitude”. Our memory verse tells us that we are to give thanks for everything. Let’s take a look at what we should be thankful for.
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THANKFUL TO GOD
There are many things that we can thank God for, but we are going to consider just two categories: 1) His Person and 2) His Promises.
GOD’S PERSON
The second letter in the word God is “O”. It is pronounced “awe”. That’s a reminder that we should stand in awe of our awesome God. He created us and our world with just the word of His mouth. He made you so that you could fellowship with Him, worship Him, and serve Him.
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Here are a few things about God’s Character that we can be thankful for:
- He knows everything. He knows the complete past, present, and even the future.
- He is all powerful. There is no problem too great for our God. There is nothing He can’t do.
- He is merciful. Although we sin, God forgives us.
- He is loving. Even though He knows all the bad things we think or do, He still wants to have a close relationship with us.
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GOD’S PROMISES
Sometimes, people make promises but then break them. When God makes a promise, He always KEEPS it. God placed a rainbow in the sky as a symbol that He would never again destroy the world with a flood. When you see one, let it remind you of God’s other promises:
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- He will never leave us, nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)
- He will give us eternal life, and we will never perish. (John 10:28)
- He will provide for our needs. (Philippians 4:19)
- He will keep working on us to make us like Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
- He will protect us. (Psalm 27:1)
- He will not allow us to face a temptation that is too hard for us, and He will make a way of escape in that temptation. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
- He is preparing a place for His children and will come again for them. (John 14:1-4)
The Bible is full of promises made to us by God. We can give thanks to God for who He is and for what He’s promised.
THANKING OTHERS
We should thank God first, but He also wants us to be grateful to others. Maybe you’ve seen a mother or father ask a little child, “What do you say?” The response they are looking for is “Thank you.” As you get older you shouldn’t need your parents to tell you. You should be in the habit of thanking others when they help you or give you something. You should say “thank you” when someone holds the door open for you, passes food to you at the table, or gives you a compliment or a present. It’s also good to thank people who serve you in some way. It makes people happy and encourages them to do more good for others.
Sometimes it is important to not only say it out loud, but to actually write a thank you note. You should do this when you get a present for your birthday, Christmas or other special occasion. It would be nice if you would write a note of thanks to your parents or grandparents for all they do for you or to a friend for their friendship.
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IN EVERYTHING?
Our memory verse does say everything, even the bad. How can we be thankful when we get hurt or something bad happens? We can be thankful because we know that God is in complete control and that He can take the bad and use it for our good. He can use it to help us be strong, to teach us to trust in Him more, or so that we can also help others. God makes no mistakes.
TAKE TIME TODAY TO THANK GOD AND OTHERS FOR HOW THEY HAVE HELPED YOU!