The holiday is over, and we are all a little heavier, and after black Friday our wallets are all a little lighter.  

We are probably still with a family that gives us great joy, and probably we’ve had enough joy.  

The Holidays go so fast, and we all get stressed because of all the “extra’s” we are participating in.  The added food and drink has not helped our wardrobe, and we all probably need a nap.  

It is a shame though that we only have one recognized day a year to remind us to give thanks.  

The problem with the holiday of “Thanksgiving”, is the world does not see it as thanks to God.  They give thanks for their family, friends, house, job, etc., but most are not directing those thanks to the Lord.  

The Bible tells us to give thanks 24/7.  

I typed into Biblegateway.com the word “thanks”, and exactly 100 scriptures popped up.  It’s probably more because there are a lot of scriptures that use the word “praise” for thanks.  

I think my favorite is 1 Chronicles 16:34 – “ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.”  

I like it because there are no strings attached.  Just, He will love you forever, so praise Him. What a blessing! 

 And the one I think everyone knows, which I learned in the King James version:  Philippians 4:6-7 “ Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  

If you read all the scriptures that talk about “thanks”, most of them have a common thread.  That we should give thanks to God no matter what is happening in our lives, or in the world.  

God knows if we have an attitude of thankfulness, then we won’t have an attitude of entitlement.  I also like 1 Timothy 4:4-5: “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”  

Paul is telling the followers not to listen to false teaching, which was forbidding them to marry, and to abstain from certain foods.  Paul reminds them that everything from God is good, and to receive these gifts with thanksgiving.  

Colossians 3:15 states “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.”  

Sometimes trying to be at peace, and being thankful at the same time is a hard task, but God beckons us to do so.  

In Colossians 4:2 it states to “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  So, we are also called to prayer while being thankful. And lastly, Psalm 50:14: “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.”  

There are many more scriptures on thanksgiving, but I think these sum up our Christian walk.  

1)  God is good so give thanks.  

2)  Ask God for what you need and give thanks whether you receive it or not.  

3)  God created everything and it’s all good so give thanks.  

4)  Keep the peace and give thanks.  

5)  Constantly pray and give thanks.  

6)  Preform what you promised and what is asked by God, while giving thanks to Him.  

All this reminds me of a childhood song with which I leave you with the chorus.  – “Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly dove. Stay right here with us, filling us with your love.  And for these blessings, we lift our hearts in praise. And without a doubt, we’ll know, that we have been revived, when we shall leave this place.”

 

Karen Y. Stevens is the founder of Orange County Christian Writers Guild