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.

Day 25 :: The thing that makes my spirit soar

She folds her hands to pray before dinner.  Quietly looking around, she begins to speak to God,

"Thank you for our chicken.  Thank you for our corn.  Thank you for our beans.  Thank you for our salt.  Thank you for our Grand-moms.  Thank you for Mommy.  Thank you for our brother.  Thank you for Daddy.  Thank you for my sister.  Thank you for me.  Amen."

My two year old daughter has already begun to practice that which I've only just begun:  Naming the things for which I am thankful.

Letting the grumbles grow is easy.  But it crushes.

Naming the blessings is something I'm learning to do more.  When I do, my spirit soars.

It doesn't take away the messy house, the disobedient children, or the challenging circumstances.  But it replaces my thoughts with those that turn me toward God.  Isn't it about Him anyway?  If I want to make more of Jesus, and less of me, shouldn't I dwell on the gifts from His hand?  For in dwelling on His gifts I really dwell on Him.

My mother-in-law sent me the book, One Thousand Gifts this summer.  I had given it to her for Christmas last year; she read it and then passed it on to me.  I learned much reading what Ann Voskamp had to share.  This act of naming gifts is a practice she speaks of, and it made such an impact in her own life.

I love the way she puts it,

So, not only I am seeking to make a list in my heart, but I'm starting to write a list, a list of my blessings.  I want to return thanks, not grumbles, in the midst of my day.  I long for my heart to shout out thanks to God.

He is most gracious and if I fail to lift my heart up in thanks I fail to recognize Him for who He is.

"All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!  They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor your kingdom." 

Psalm 145:10-12

Oh, that today my heart would rise up in thanks and bless the Lord!

To see a list of other posts in this series go here.

*Updated:
Yesterday was a full day, and it wasn't until after writing this post this morning that I saw on Ann Voskamp's blog the trailer for the new One Thousand Gifts DVD study.  If you have a few minutes, go on over, watch the trailer, and when you have time, settle in and watch the first session.  I know you'll be blessed.*