Prayer: Give Thanks
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Today is Thanksgiving: a day we gather with friends and family, eat good food, and hopefully give thanks for the many blessings that we experience in our lives. It’s a day we take a step back and recognize some of the things we may regularly take for granted. Even on Thanksgiving Day, there are many things we take for granted that completely slip out of our attention as we intentionally recognize other blessings in our lives.
Today’s verses from 1 Thessalonians are an important reminder of the posture in which we are to live, not just once a year on Thanksgiving, but as we walk through each day. In our continual prayer, we are called to rejoice always and to give thanks in all circumstances. In each and every day, we should be taking notice of even the small things God provides for us. This means more than just flippantly offering our thanks before each meal. It means living with an understanding that there are many people who do not have what we have, and that God, in his sovereignty, has blessed all of us far beyond what we deserve.
So as we make our way through the stuffing, turkey, and mashed potatoes, all swimming in gravy, let’s take a moment to stop, thanking God for the friends and family we are surrounded with. And let’s carry this posture of being genuinely thankful for each of God’s provisions in our lives not just today, but with every day we are given.
Happy Thanksgiving!
