Thanksgiving: More Than a Holiday, A State of Being
As we prepare for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, marked by Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to reflect on what the Bible says about it. As the title of this piece indicates, thanksgiving is far more than a holiday, it is a state of being. Not only does it reflect what we are thinking and feeling in any given moment, it is the precursor to peace according to Philippians 4:6-7 where the Lord tells us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We all want peace: peace in our homes, peace on our jobs, peace in the hearts of our children and peace for those troubled souls that don’t yet know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How we go about obtaining peace and the rest that is a natural outcropping of peace is to begin every day with a prayer of thanksgiving. In Matthew 6:25 we are told not to worry about our life, food, clothing or time, but to instead seek the kingdom of God above all else and that our Father in heaven knows what we need and intends to give it to us when we diligently seek Him. God confirms that word in 1 Peter 5:7 where He speaks of His love for us and instructs us to cast all of our cares on Him. He warns against letting anything trouble our hearts in John 14:1. He insists that we trust in Him to avoid the sin of worry. If we worry then we signal to God that we don’t fully trust Him or the work of the Cross. Brothers and sisters, abide in Him so He can abide in you and give you peace that will strengthen you, the peace that will guard you and the peace that makes way for Holy Spirit to guide you and fill you with love and joy that overflows. May your prayer and meditation on Thanksgiving transform you and steer you far from the earthly concerns of man and into the Spirit of life and peace in this holiday season and every day that follows (Romans 8:6). Bless God and bless you!
Contributor: Tara Lynn Gray