Thanksgiving

If you are anything like me, you stepped into the year 2020 with boldness and anticipation and eyes set on ambitious resolutions. But as February rolled around, we started gaining insight that this was going to be a year like no other.

2020 has been a year of real uncertainty – the COVID-19 pandemic, racial tensions, political and social upheaval, floods, hurricanes, brush fires, all of which have become our reality.

In uncertain times, continuing to rejoice in the Lord is not easy.  When we are faced with unemployment, food anxiety, housing insecurity, strained relationships, separation from loved ones, and marriages hanging in crisis mode, it can be hard to rejoice in the Lord.  

Yes, it’s easy to feel discouraged and defeated. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and undone. It is easy to find yourself wondering if your future has any victory.

As we approach a Thanksgiving Day (for those in the USA) like nothing we’ve ever experienced, I urge you to stop for a moment and breathe and reflect on your blessings and be thankful. We all have much to be thankful for. We are alive.

Thanksgiving—the giving of thanks—to God for all His blessings should be one of the most distinctive marks of the believer in Jesus Christ. We must not allow a spirit of heaviness to harden our hearts and chill our relationship with God and with others. Being Christian does not give us immunity from pain on suffering here on earth.

While imprisoned, Paul wrote, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20, NIV).

Always giving thanks for everything—no matter the circumstances! Thanksgiving for the Apostle Paul was not a once-a-year celebration, but a daily reality with regards to his situation and that’s how it should be for us.

Refusing to thank God for His blessings goes against biblical directives. From the beginning to the end of the Bible, we are commanded to be thankful. In fact, thankfulness is the natural outflowing of a heart that is attuned to God. The psalmist declared, “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving” (Psalm 147:7, NIV).

Celebrating Thanksgiving Day 2020 may be different. If, you are celebrating with immediate family only, or on your own, or virtually, as we give thanks, here are some reminders:

• Keep your eyes focused on God – it keeps us in a place of humility and total dependence on Him. We recognize how much we need Him and that He is in control.
• Count your blessings, name them one by one – this makes us recognize that we have so much to be thankful for, even the little things that we often take for granted. In the midst of our challenges, many are His blessings towards us.
• Remember that He is a giver of good gifts – we were never intended to be fully self-sufficient. God is our provider, ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 1 Chronicles 16:11-12; James 1:17
• A grateful heart leaves no room for grumbling and complaining – it is impossible to be genuinely thankful and be filled with ungratefulness.
• Give thanks in anticipation of your victory – a thankful heart drives away doubt and releases faith for God to have His way in your life.
• Thanksgiving is an action – praise and thanksgiving make the enemy flee. The forces of darkness are pushed back and strongholds are dismantled when we lift up God in thanksgiving and praise.
• My final reminder is that thanksgiving invites the presence of God into our lives and opens the door for continued blessings. The Lord delights in our thankfulness and He pours out His Spirit and favor on those who give adoration and praise and glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him.

“O Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”  Ps. 95:1-3

“Thanksgiving invites the presence of God into our lives and opens the door for continued blessings.”