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Thanksgiving is a time of peace and thankfulness. It is a holiday often shared with loved ones. This Thanksgiving consider thanking God for your blessings, while sharing the day with your family.
The original Thanksgiving Day focused on praising God after the early Pilgrims survived a harsh winter. The long journey from Europe to America was dangerous, but for those who landed in the New World, the next obstacle was surviving the weather conditions and lack of essential necessities.
Early Europeans had to construct everything from scratch, including their cabins, fireplaces, and food storage sheds.
Thanksgiving originated as a way to thank God for survival and help people endure difficult circumstances. Early Americans knew they needed Providence on their side, and the best way to ensure that was to worship God properly.
Today, we might celebrate Thanksgiving with family, food, and football as the foundation. While this is okay, we should meditate on the day’s history and ensure God is thanked for our blessings.
The Lord must be the cornerstone of a nation’s morals and practices for it to thrive. This foundational practice starts and ends with worship to God.
Americans live in the most free nation in the world, where you can practice your faith. When thanking God, this is a good place to start.
Some ways to express your gratitude to Providence are individual prayers when together at the dinner table or even proclaiming out loud what God has done in your life this past year.
If you struggle, consider reading a Psalm out loud. The writings, mostly compiled by David, are a great starting point for prayer directed toward God. An example is Psalm 100:
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100)
While Thanksgiving is centered on our loved ones and fellowship, ensure you incorporate God into the day. Our nation would not exist without the blessings and providential care of Jesus Christ, both in past history and today.
American Christians have the responsibility not only to declare the Lordship of Christ, but to ensure the generations to come will maintain the Christian foundations of the United States. Be not only a patriot, but a Christian patriot.
