It’s Thanksgiving tomorrow. For many of us, that means eating copious amounts of carbs and sweets and crashing on the couch for a post meal nap. And perhaps spending time with extended family catching up on the ins and outs of daily life. It is a day that we embrace a heart of Thanksgiving. Perhaps in the week leading up to Turkey Day we think more about our blessings. But as quickly as the leftovers get packed up, so often does our heart for thanks.
The Bible is filled with scripture about thanks and thanksgiving. About giving thanks in ALL circumstances, not just when our lives are abundant. Thanksgiving is an act of worship, an outward and inward demonstration of our confidence and trust in the One True God. It says, “God, no matter where I am on this earthly journey, I know my life is safe and secure in your hands.”
A thankful heart isn’t as natural as breathing in and breathing out. It requires effort. It requires commitment. It requires us to set aside our earthly logic for heavenly assurance.
I am on a journey of thankfulness. Because I know the truest way to live a life of continual prayer is to look with purpose on the blessings God has placed before me. Maybe they appear mundane – a hot cup of coffee with morning devotionals, a safe drive to work, a deal at the grocery store, a hug from our grown child. A breath taken without effort. Thanksgiving is a state of mind. A state of being. A state of living.
One day a year, it comes with turkey, sweet potatoes, and pie. The other 364 days are up to you to design. Will November 29 return you to frustrations? Complaints? Fear? Or will this year’s Thanksgiving leftovers feed your heart and mind, not just your stomach?
I am thankful for each of you who makes time to read and share this blog. And I pray that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, and a life defined by a grateful heart. One breath, one thought at a time.
I wanted to share a few verses that you can be praying and leaning into this Thanksgiving and moving forward.
Psalm 100:4, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Colossians 4:2, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 138:1–2, “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”
Psalm 118:1, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Isaiah 12:4, “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.”
This week’s prayer can be found at https://simplyjoy.online/prayers/thank-you-3/