November 22, 2021 – Click here to listen
In a couple of days, we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy your turkey feast with all the trimmings, and the turkey sandwich feasts for the days thereafter. Also, enjoy non-stop football and, if you are fortunate, spending time with friends and relatives galore.
Unfortunately, our kids are all busy this year and it’s a bummer not to see them, especially since I will be celebrating my 75th birthday too, but they have their own lives to live and other parents that want to see them too, (one of which is in very poor health). I understand completely but will miss celebrating with them.
All the turkey and the celebration are fine, however, more than anything I intend to make my emphasis on taking the time to reflect on what God has done for me and our family and to thank Him profusely on bended knees.
Some folks, me included, sometimes seem to overlook the good things with which we are blessed and focus on the negative. We need to understand that we cannot win them all and in fact sometimes the things that we desire the most are not actually good for us. Have you ever prayed hard for something to occur and when it didn’t happen, you got angry, frustrated, and sad? And then on down the road you found that had you received that for which you asked, it would have been disastrous. I have thanked God more than once for looking ahead and answering no. Boy, I can relate to that.
I suggest that when we go to the Lord this holiday season that we should do it in a spirit of “thanksgiving” for all those things with which we have been blessed and yes including when we didn’t get everything we desired. Many times, we approach God as though He is some mega ATM or a genie with a magic lamp awaiting our three wishes and focus entirely upon asking for things, or worse rail at Him like a spoiled child about not getting or losing something we highly esteemed.
I believe this special time of year should be especially set aside for “thanking”, and not asking. Yes, the Bible tells us to come to God with everything but concentrate this Thursday on being thankful, especially for Jesus Christ and your salvation which can at a heavy price, and hold off on asking for anything, at least on this Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Psalm 100:4
Enter into His gates
with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him,
and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures for
generations.