Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song
Psalm 95:1-2
In the United States, we have deemed the fourth Thursday of November as our day of communal thanksgiving. This is the day when we take time out of our hectic lives to remember the sacrifices of the first European settlers and how they came together with the Native Americans to find commonality in a meal. We remember their peace that long ago launched a new nation and although this nation is far from perfect we are thankful that we have an origin in peaceful community.
So often we pause before a meal to offer thanks to God for the gift of nourishment, but this time of thanksgiving grace before a meal is symbolic of the thanks we offer to God for each blessing He gives us. When we bow our heads to pray we have the opportunity to remember with a grateful heart all that God has done for us in our lives. Too often we focus on the things we want or we think we need when we go to God in prayer, but in reality we should first be focused on thanking God for the bounty He has already provided.
When we focus on what we already have received, on the blessings which overflow like a cornucopia of delightful blessings, our needs and wants seem less important in the realization that God is overwhelming with His blessings.
Each of us has experienced tremendous blessings in our lives from life, to family, to education, to home and to friendships; the blessings are too numerous to count or relay, but it is important to take time to remember them.
As you approach these days prior to our communal thanksgiving as a nation, remember to take time to thank God for the blessings in your life and to pray for this nation to do likewise.
Scripture
Quote of the Day
“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”
Francis Keonig
Question of the Day
What is one of the greatest belssings from God?
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