Give Thanks All Year

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1); Always use the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST to thank GOD the Father for everything. (Ephesians 5:20)

An estimated 55 million people in the U.S. will take to the air and roads this week to be with family on Thanksgiving Day .

Thanksgiving is the one American Holiday when people will fly or drive across the country to reunite with close relations and rekindle familial bonds. Throw in the traditional turkey dinner with all the usual trimmings and a football game on TV and you have a traditional American Thanksgiving. For parents and grandparents, especially, to have the entire family under the same roof all at once, (for some in the same city or state) is more than enough to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving ought to be much more for the children of GOD. This season should remind us of all the many miraculous ways that GOD has worked, and continues to work, in our lives. We must make thanksgiving a year-round lifestyle.

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation…. Psalm 79:13.

No matter the season, our thanksgiving is offered to our GOD and Father – our sacrificial worship for all eternity.

Too often in our prayer we thank GOD for our creature comforts only – food, clothing, shelter, our new car, children’s health and academic progress, careers, etc. Without question, GOD is our Good Shepherd who provides these things for us and our loved ones. But there’s much more.

GOD gave us many Bible verses to inspire us to more thoughtful and meaningful ways to thank Him throughout the year. Here are a few.

Thank GOD because:

• He’s CREATOR of everything and it’s all good. (Genesis 1) “Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of GOD and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:4-5
• His LOVE is perfect and enduring. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34
• He gives GRACE for life and godly living. “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in CHRIST JESUS. For in Him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.” 1 Corinthians 1:4
• He SATISFIES our every need. “Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9

Thank GOD anytime and in all circumstances.

• In our private or corporate prayer and worship settings. – “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. Psalm 100:4
• As we engage in our daily tasks and leisure activities, and raise families. – “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17
• In good times and bad. – “Give thanks in everything, for this is GOD’s will for you in CHRIST JESUS.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18;
• As overwhelmed and troubled. – “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in CHRIST JESUS.” Philippians 4:6-7
• Feeling inadequate and unable to cope. – “But thanks be to GOD! He gives us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

From Genesis to Revelation we have learnt that GOD works all things together for the joy and deliverance of His people but ultimately for His glory and His Name. So even when life is hardest for us, we continue to give thanks to GOD. “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me.” Psalm 50:23.

We obey His commands for thanksgiving, not just for our good, but for His Glory!

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your Name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, we acknowledge you as GOD Most High, Creator of Heaven and earth and everything on it. You are perfect and you do all things well; we thank you that every good and perfect gift come from you. We thank You because You are holy, all wise and all good; we thank You for Your perfect plan ordained before the beginning of time and the indescribable gift of JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOR and LORD that gives us victory over sin and eternal life with You. Teach us to love You only and obey Your word. To you, Father, be dominion and power for ever and ever. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile