Years ago we picked up a Thanksgiving tradition at a church we attended that our family observed for years. We’d set two containers on the table—an empty cylindrical glass vase, and a bowlful of dry corn. Family members took turns announcing something they were grateful for as they dropped a kernel of corn into the clear vessel. We’d try through the day to fill the vase up with our specific thanks, visible as a rising golden collection of seed. Sometimes the later in the day the kids would take a handful of corn and list a bunch of things rapid-fire as they dropped all the matching kernels in!
This U.S. holiday on the fourth Thursday of November started as a celebration of bounty connected with the pilgrims. In fact, this year marks our 400th anniversary of Thanksgiving celebration!
But the Bible highlighted the topic of giving thanks long before the Mayflower sailed from England to Plymouth Rock. The idea of expressing gratitude comes up scores of times in its pages, both in the Old Testament and the New. More than a nice idea, being thankful figures as a prominent part of God’s will for us!
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Ephesians further encourages us to give thanks, and this exhortation plays a significant theme in Colossians, where Paul pictures our walking in Christ as overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:7).
The Psalms are full of thanksgiving to God. Psalm 100 says to enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. This prompts me to start most of my conversations with God and most every prayer that I write in my journal, by thanking God for His hand in my life.
The Word tells us to give thanks in everything. Whoa! You mean gratitude isn’t just for when life goes my way? You heard right —in everything. How on earth can we be expected to do that? Despite the wording of Ephesians 5:20 to give thanks for all things, God does not mean that we cheer at every tragedy or clearly bad event, of which He is never the source. God is love and calls us to love, and love never rejoices in evil, but in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). God would never suggest we exult in works of the devil, which Jesus clearly came to destroy (1 John 3:8).
Rather, we can rejoice in any circumstance because we see past it, with eyes of faith. We believe God’s promises, like Romans 8:28 that says He is working all things together for our good, because we love Him and are called according to His purpose. We thank Him for our authority over all the power of the enemy, and that we will not be overcome by evil, but will overcome evil with good (Luke 10:19, Romans 12:21). And we praise Him that everyone born of God overcomes the world, and for the victory that is ours through faith (1 John 5:4).
Wherever you are, whatever is going on in your life, may thanksgiving fill your heart!
I am most thankful for your timely sharing of Biblical wisdom and the sharing of your gift of writing, that makes these truths hit home!