Thanksgiving is for Worship

We give thanks for the things we've been given.

We give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy in our nation.

We give thanks for our comforts, friends, family, and food.

But, what if we didn't have things?

What if our freedoms were taken away?

What if the comforts and relationships we enjoy were gone?

Would our hearts well up with thanksgiving?

If our measure of thanks is based upon what we have, we have lost sight of the true reason for being thankful.

Thankfulness should not be based upon our plenty, or our want.  It should not be based upon our circumstances, easy or hard.  It is not dependent upon how smooth relationships are going.

Thankfulness comes from a heart that knows a great God who is always great, always good, always sovereign, and always worthy of our praise.

Thanksgiving is for worship.

We worship God when we have much or when we have nothing.

We worship God when we have freedom or when we are in bondage.

We worship God when we are comfortable and uncomfortable.

We worship God when we live at peace with those around us and when we have enemies on all sides.

Our worship of God should never change, and therefore our thankfulness to Him should never change.  

Our worship of God should always be great; our thankfulness to God should always be great.

This is what the psalmist says:

"Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens!  Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!  Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!  Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with strings and pipe!  Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!"

Psalm 150

On this Thanksgiving let us choose to worship God because He is mighty to be praised, at all times.  Let us use our breath to give Him thanks, in all things.