We have so very much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day! And, it’s good to be even more intentional than usual today as we remember all of the blessings our God has bestowed upon us! As the name of the holiday suggests, we should give God all the praise, honor and glory this day – with GREAT THANKFULNESS! He alone is worthy!
Yes, the world, as usual, is running amuck in so many ways – Lord have mercy – but, I’ve chosen this morning to set my attention on the Holy One!
Scripture tells us that it is good to be thankful for God’s blessing, protection and most of all, the salvation we have through Christ Jesus! Our Lord is the way, the truth and the life, and none come unto the Father except through Jesus. We know that Jesus is the only name given by which man can be saved. We know that Jesus willingly died on the cross, shedding his precious and redeeming blood, so that you and I can be saved and live eternally in glory (heaven), in the very presence of Almighty God! Praise God!
Well, if you are willing to join me, I’m going to listen to one of the very best Christian worship leaders and musicians I know, Don Moen, as he performs “Give Thanks” in a live recording. While this is playing, I’d like to share some thoughts and scripture about the incredible importance the bible places on: 1) being thankful; 2) that it’s good to sing (make music) when giving praise and thanks to God; and 3) a few other things showing us the goodness of our Lord and how important it is to always seek Him first!
Give Thanks To The Lord
The bible is filled with scripture making it clear that our God is worthy of our praise and that we are to be exceedingly thankful as we pray, petition and worship Him! Here are some scriptures to consider, which clearly speak of God’s goodness and mercy in our lives:
1 Chronicles 16:34 (NKJV)
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalm 9:1 (Amplified Bible)
A Psalm of Thanksgiving for God’s Justice
“I will give thanks and praise the Lord, with all my heart; I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds.”
Psalm 97:12 (Amplified Bible)
“Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones [those whose moral and spiritual integrity places them in right standing with God], [a]nd praise and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.”
Psalm 107:1 (NKJV)
Thanksgiving to the Lord for His Great Works of Deliverance
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalm 118:1 (NKJV) [See 118:29 – This psalm begins/ends with this same verse!]
Praise to God for His Everlasting Mercy
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalm 118:29 (NKJV) [See 118:1 – This psalm begins/ends with this same verse!]
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalm 136:1 (NKJV)
Thanksgiving to God for His Enduring Mercy
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)
“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Give Thanks To The Lord With Singing (Music)
The bible is also filled with scripture making it clear that as we pray, petition and worship our God, that it is good to show our exceeding thankfulness by singing and making music! Here are some scriptures to consider, which speak of God’s goodness and mercy in our lives, and the importance of worshiping Him in song:
2 Chronicles 20:20-21 (NKJV)
“So they [the Levites] rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘[h]ear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: [b]elieve in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.’ And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord [emphasis mine], and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: ‘[p]raise the Lord, [f]or His mercy endures forever.’”
Psalm 18:49 (Amplified Bible)
“Therefore will I give thanks and praise You, O Lord, among the nations, [a]nd sing praises to Your name.”
Psalm 30:4 (Amplified Bible)
“Sing to the Lord, O you His godly ones, [a]nd give thanks at the mention of His holy name.”
Psalm 30:12 (Amplified Bible)
“That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”
Psalm 57:9 (Amplified Bible)
“I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the people; I will sing praises to You among the nations.”
Psalm 92:1 (NKJV)
Praise to the Lord for His Love and Faithfulness
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, [a]nd to sing praises to Your name, O Most High…”.
Colossians 3:16 (Amplified Bible)
“Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
More Reasons To Be Exceedingly Thankful
The bible (Prophet Jeremiah) reminds us how very much our Creator loves us, as we were made in the image and likeness of God, and that God knew us before we were ever formed in our mothers’ wombs, and that God planned for us to have a peaceful life filled with hope (in Christ), and that the Father will hear us when we pray:
Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NKJV)
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
The bible reminds us that even in times of turmoil, sickness or unrest, the suffering we endure in this present life, although sometimes painful, is not worth comparing to the glory of knowing the Lord and the salvation we have in Him! No matter our current circumstances, those who name Jesus as Lord have the hope (read: assurance) of heaven, with a glorified body, and eternal life in the very presence of God Almighty (amen):
Romans 8:18-21 (ESV)
Future Glory
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of [H]im who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
Colossians 3:1-4 (NKJV)
Not Carnality but Christ
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
The bible reminds us of the privilege we have as children of God! When we are becoming anxious, fearful or in need, scripture tells us that by praying to our heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, we have the assurance that God hears our requests – but we are to always remember to pray with THANKSGIVING in our hearts:
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…”.
Colossians 4:2 (NKJV)
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving…”.
And let’s not forget how important thankfulness is to God! Our God knows the beginning from the end. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. The bible shows us that in heaven, the twenty-four (24) elders sitting before the very throne of God fall on their faces in worship, with great thankfulness:
Revelation 11:16-17 (NKJV)
Following the Seventh Trumpet
“And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “[w]e give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, [t]he One who is and who was and who is to come, [b]ecause You have taken Your great power and reigned.”
Happy Thanksgiving! May God’s richest blessings and His peace be with you today and throughout the year.
Praise Jesus forevermore!