In this week of meals and holiday deals kicking off the holiday season, we have to pause and remember the real reason behind our Thanksgiving.
See, gratitude has become something of a cultural practice that can get disconnected from the One we’re grateful to. Science has finally caught up to what the scriptures have taught for countless generations: acknowledging the power gratitude has over discouragement, anxiety, and fear. Habitually giving thanks can literally rewire our thinking into a healthier pattern.
But as good as it can be to give thanks generally, it’s even better to give thanks to the One who has given us every good gift and is with us through the darkest valleys.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we get the simplest, most practical guide to fostering a heart attuned to the Lord:
Rejoice always,pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Rejoice, pray, give thanks.
Always, without ceasing, in all circumstances.
This is the will of God for us, through what Christ secured for us in a life with Him at the center.
It is God’s will for us to put Him into the center of our thoughts. And that’s not because He needs it; no, He gives us this perfect guide because it’s the perfect antidote to the darkness in our world and in our hearts.
To rejoice always is to choose: no matter how bad things might get, God is still good.
To pray without ceasing is to trust: the Lord is trustworthy and will never fail us.
To give thanks in all circumstances is to depend: regardless of my lack, the Lord will provide.
Jesus, our unfailing Friend, we give You thanks on this thanksgiving week. We open our hearts to You in gratitude — whether this week represents our losses and pain, or we’re excited to share it with the ones we love. We pause and choose to rejoice in You. We turn to You in prayer and place our trust in You for everything; from the tiniest detail to the most treasured things in our lives. You have been good, You continue to be good, and You will always be good. Help us to ground ourselves into a life of rejoicing, prayer, and gratitude, and may Your will be done in us. We pray this in Jesus’ beautiful name. Amen!