Day after tomorrow is Thanksgiving day, which gives us a chance as a nation to pause and thank our God for the many blessings of life and as a national holiday it is a good thing. Still, let us remember, as Christians, that we are to carry this thanksgiving and thankfulness with us every day of the year, ever being thankful to God for His many blessings. We should have an attitude of thanksgiving toward God in all that we do, knowing that it is through Him that all things are possible.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” So even as Thanksgiving day is the day set aside nationally for us to rejoice, pray and give thanks, we can note from this passage that we are to do all three “always’, “without ceasing”, and “in everything”.

We should carry this attitude of prayer and the giving of thanks with us in all that we do so that we may rejoice in the glory of God and His working in our lives. When we cease to give thanks to God for everything, we begin to fail him and this window of communication through prayer should always be open so that we may thank God no matter what we are doing.

This also means that we must be living our lives in the way God would have us live, since if we sin we turn our backs upon Him, at least temporarily, and have lost that sense of ever being in His presence and in an attitude of prayer and thanksgiving toward Him. If we strive to keep our spirits tuned to God at all times, we will find it easier to walk in His ways and according to the pattern he would have us live our lives, as found in the scriptures.

So let us, as we move into and beyond the holiday season, strive to keep our hearts and minds tuned to God in a spirit of thankfulness and not just limit it to one day a year. Let us always be thankful for the physical blessing he gives us each day, our food and shelter and the other things that make up our material lives, but most of all be thankful for the Spiritual blessing we enjoy as His children.

Let’s always carry in our hearts and minds gratitude for the great sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross that we may be forgiven of our sins and put into a right relationship with God, the Father. Let us carry in our hearts gratitude for the hope we have of heaven in the next life and all that great promise means to us. If we can keep our spiritual blessings in mind as we journey through this life, we can be ever thankful as the scriptures tell us we should. Let’s not just be thankful for the material world alone, but more importantly, let’s be thankful for the spiritual blessings not least of which is  the continued guidance of God’s word.

If we carry this attitude with us always, it will go a long way in keeping us on the path that we should walk. Let’s rejoice, have an attitude of prayer and be thankful to God every day of our lives and not just limit it to one day. If we do so it is in vain, since God through His word tells us to do it without ceasing. Have a good holiday and may God grant you the strength to carry the spirit of Thanksgiving through the coming year and forever.

May God bless and keep you until next time.