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THANKSGIVING – Ray E Horton
With America’s Thanksgiving holiday approaching, here are some thoughts to meditate on:
It’s so easy to take our many blessings for granted and focus on our needs and wants – what we don’t have. Yet compared with people who have yet not accepted the Lord, we have received the love of the Father, the wonderful grace and favor of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit within us to lead us, teach us and comfort us.
And, in America we have great freedom and blessings. We can worship as we choose without persecution. We have choices for every aspect of life. We prosper, no matter what our state, compared with much of the world, with plenty of food, adequate shelter and modern conveniences. We even have the opportunity to give of ourselves and our substance and to be a blessing to others.
Many of us are blessed with wonderful families, and where that is lacking, we have the family of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
God’s Word gives us examples for thanksgiving. Here are just a few scriptures on thanksgiving:
Thankfulness to the Lord for His death and resurrection for us:
“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” 1 Cor. 10:16
Thanksgiving for anticipated answered prayer:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” Col. 4:2
Thanksgiving for the goodness of God’s creation:
“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” 1 Tim. 4:4
Thanksgiving for God’s deeds:
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.” 1 Chron. 16:8
“I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.” Ps. 9:1
Thanksgiving for God’s goodness and mercy:
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Ps. 107:1
Thanksgiving for fellow believers:
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Phil. 1:3
“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Cor. 1:4
“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.” 2 Thess. 1:3
“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers.” Philemon 1:4
Thanksgiving for all people:
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.” 1 Tim. 2:1
Thanksgiving for the ability to be generous:
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 2 Cor. 9:11
