Thanksgiving is just around the corner and if you’re like me you find it to be more of a time for eating than giving thanks. But as we read through the scripture we find many times where it tells us to give God thanks to Him. Such as Psalms 105
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
Some of us read those words and we can immediately think, Yes Lord! I praise you and thank you for you are Jehovah! You are my Healer, my Savior, my Provider, my safety! You find it easy to boast in His name and make known His deeds to all people. Seeking His face is your heart’s desire for in that you find your strength.
You might be thinking right now, “That’s great Pastor. If you have never faced any problems.” So many times when it comes to our turn to give thanks during those difficult times we shift to something that is completely unrelated to the issue that weights on our heart. We say thank you God for my health. Which I would say you are thankful for, however, it’s not what you want to be thankful for. You want your life to be perfect and not messy. You may this thanksgiving have a wayward child or friend that you wish would come to Jesus. Maybe you have some sin in your life that keeps knocking you down and you don’t know how to overcome. Maybe you just want a pause in life to take a breath because of what you have gone through this year. Am I getting close to your heart?
So what do we do with this? I believe there are 2 options:
Continue like we have for so many years avoiding the issue. (I don’t think this is our best option.)
Joshua 1:5 “I will not leave you or forsake you.” Matthew 28:20 “ And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We seek His presence and promise. It’s easy in these difficult moments to say, “God where are you?”
What is amazing is His response! Which is, “I have never left you!” No matter what are facing this thanksgiving season God is with you. He promised that He will always be with you if you are in Christ Jesus. If you are facing some kind of sin in your life He is there to forgive and not condemn. Rom 8:1.
If you are facing a wayward loved one remembe,r He is the God of the prodigal. Luke 15
If you are dealing with so much you don’t know how to go on, He is God on a throne of grace ready to give grace and mercy to those who boldly ask Him for it.
This thanksgiving I encourage you not to give thanks for your normal life, but your difficult one. Give thanks to God for not leaving you in the mess, but for being a God you can lean on during it. Thank God by saying, Thank you that you are still here! Don’t leave me God. I need your presence in my life. Thank you that you give me you.
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