Though we should make thanks’ giving a lifestyle; this week we have an opportunity to express our gratitude first to God and then to those who did acts of kindness to us.
On this day we get to stop for a moment to reflect on the acts kindness of others throughout the year. When our lives are full of thanks giving, each moment, the troubles of this life seem to have no power over us.
A thankful heart is one that has learnt that regardless of what lives throws at us, there is something to be thankful for, and therefore ceases to focus on those moments that seem unpleasant but focus on those things that are of good report.
Though on this day we tend to think about those things done to us by others, it’s very important that we also think about our own actions towards others.
In doing so we thank God for the ability, resources and provision he made available to us, so we can be a blessing to others. So the true measure of thanks giving is what we do with the blessings that God has given us.
Can we thank God when we do not seem to indentify anything to thank him for? I do not believe that a person can lack something to thank God for, what can be true is that, in may cases life can deal with us very bitterly, unfairly to a point where our hearts are numbed towards the good being done.
American families will join their hands in prayer to say grace, in some cases some families take time to listen to every member of the family, as they narrate what they are thankful for.
In my own family I have listened to my children say what they are thankful for. On one occasion of thanks giving, I was surprised when my son said he thanked God for his home work.
Well this is not something that i did not thank God for growing up, but it reminded me, the truth found in the word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:18) “in everything give thanks for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus concerning you” .
When we develop a habit of thankfulness we end up thanking God for even those things we do not understand.
If you are going through a difficult moment right now, i encourage you to quite yourself and ask the Lord to remind you, of how he has helped you in the past, God’s past victories over your life can serve as place to start to thank him.
As you do so you notice that God has been faithful to you in the past circumstances or situations, and the fore you can thank him for what you are going through right now, knowing that if he took care of you in the past incidents then, he is able to do so, now.
We read in the book of Daniel 6:10 the following “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”
So we can thank God for that bad report, and trust him for the out come. Thanks giving seasons can be a time when, maybe you have just received a bad report of a sickness, lose of a job, a loved one, divorce, maybe you have no money for shopping in a busy season where most people around you, seem to have it all.
Start by thanking God for your situation; watch God move on your behalf. Are there things you want to thank God for, it’s good to thank the Lord for all things, first thank him for your life, for you, this because if you were not alive, the people who blessed you could have not had an opportunity to bless you, those who you blessed could not have had an opportunity to be blessed.
Thank him for others thank those that God has placed in your life, those that he has used to bless you.
Many years ago, the Pilgrims of Plymouth did so. They shared their food with the natives of the land, who had helped them in times of misery.
The tradition of sharing the Thanksgiving meal continues even today. In honor of that tradition, share your gifts with friends and family.Enjoy your thanks giving by being thankful in all things.Happy thanks giving
Till next week, please visit us at “vesselforhonor.org” or you can reach at 408-833-6478,
By Evangelist Isabella Mwango
Inspiration: The true measure of our thanksgiving
