As we all prepare to gather with our families this week, I find myself reflecting on the many blessings we’ve received through Christ. I’m sure you can relate to this feeling of gratitude as we come together to celebrate Thanksgiving and thank God for all He’s done.
Philippians 4:6-7 states, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Thanksgiving may have been a season of remembrance of all God did to protect the early settlers of this nation, but it has moved forward to an attitude of gratitude for all God has done for us. Our Thanksgiving has its foundations in our salvation purchased for us at Calvary and our confession of that marvelous victory into our lives through faith.
We can stand in Thanksgiving according to Ephesians 1:3 because we are “Blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” This scripture declares that it is through Christ from whom all blessings and grace flow. We can stand in Thanksgiving, knowing that God’s ever-present love for us will never fail, and His blessings are so abundant that they overwhelm us with gratitude.
Romans 8:38-39 states, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come. Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
How wonderful it is that we can stand firm and confident in that Thanksgiving of His love, knowing that no weapon formed against us will prosper because God’s love for us is stronger than all of hell combined.
We stand thanking God, knowing that “He who has begun a good work in us, will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6). Our Thanksgiving as believers is a shout and declaration of the God who is ever-present for us and will never be against us.
As we gather around Thanksgiving tables this season, let’s remember that our Thanksgiving goes to the one who paid it all for us. The food on the table, the roof over our heads, the heat from our furnaces, and so on, all come from the providence of the God who gave it all for us. Let’s remember those who have nothing in this season but are still thankful for the redemption that is theirs through Jesus Christ. Finally, remember that because of His marvelous grace, we don’t have to be anxious for anything. This is because Matthew 6:33 states that all we have to do is “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to us.”
So, as we gather together, let’s bow our heads in true worship to the one who supplied every need according to His riches out of glory. Let’s bow our heads to the one that gave us every reason to be thankful indeed, and let’s bow our heads always in remembrance that it’s through Him that we have no lack; that it’s through Him we are blessed beyond measure, and that it’s through Him we are truly complete.
As we go about our Thanksgiving celebrations, let’s not forget to share our gratitude with those around us and continue to seek God’s blessings in our lives.
Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!
