Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 107:1
In America, we are approaching the Thanksgiving Day. Although the Pilgrims celebrated what we consider the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621, I think it is noteworthy that it was Abraham Lincoln who, in the midst of the Civil War, declared Thanksgiving to be a national holiday.
The timing of Lincoln’s declaration is significant to me because in Philippians 4:6 the apostle Paul reminds us to bring our petitions (our asks) to the Lord with thanksgiving.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
When Paul tells us to be without anxiety, but to bring everything to the Lord with thanksgiving, he reminds us that there are times when we offer the Lord our sacrifice of thanksgiving. Throughout the Old Testament there is reference to “the sacrifice of thanksgiving.”
Often, next week is the week we focus on gratitude and thanksgiving. I suggest we prepare our hearts this week, before the intensity of the Thanksgiving holiday travel, food prep, and family gatherings occur. Let’s prepare our hearts with gratitude today, tomorrow, and throughout these weeks of Thanksgiving.
Let us declare as the Psalmist writes, “O give thanks to the Lord for He is good!”
Amen and amen.