Thanksgiving. Give it go!
Last week in America they celebrated thanksgiving. Whether or not the annual holiday is particularly Christian, the apostle Paul is certainly keen for us to give thanks…
- Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:4)
- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)
- Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7)
- Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2)
- Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
As we approach the end of a year like 2020 – it’s pretty easy to resist a spirit of thankfulness. Drought. Bushfires. Pandemic. Job losses. Lockdown. Isolation. No church. No singing. No toilet paper.
Yet as creatures made and entirely sustained by God there is so much for which we can thank Him. And how much more do we, who are God’s saved and adopted children, have reason to give thanks.
During this summer season, could you perhaps spend 5 minutes at the start and end of each day thanking God? (Or make it 15 minutes! Or try for once a day?)
Perhaps you could start a list of things for which you are thankful. You could add to it each day. Or spend an hour brainstorming your list, then use it as fuel for your 5 minutes of giving thanks each day.
Not only would this be right and pleasing to God, but dwelling on things for which you are thankful will bring refreshing joy and greater contentment to your heart.
Why not give it a try?
Neil
(With thanks to Ian Carmichael from Matthias Media for the idea – his version is here)
