Thanksgiving

In 1 Chronicles chapter 16, King David comes before the ark of the Lord and gives thanks. I thought this was a very appropriate chapter for the day we set aside to give thanks.

 

"Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people."

 

"Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works."

 

"Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord."

 

"Sing unto the Lord, all the earth, shew forth from day to day his salvation."

"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

 

"Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein."

 

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."
 

 

Today I hope we can all take a break from our material lives and stop to thank God for what we truly cherish in this world. I would rather have my family, friends, and my little niece that's on the way than more clothes, a big flat screen TV, a month in Europe...you name it. Most of all I would rather have my Lord and Savior than anything. Health, safety, comfort...I would rather have Jesus.

 

Take a step back from the table piled with food, and the black Friday shopping cart that is full to the brim. What really matters to you? When you have the answer, then take some time to sincerely thank the Lord for the blessings of this life.

 

Thankfulness is so much more than a Facebook status declaring thankfulness for the trivial things in life. It cannot fit in a blog post, a short story, or a novel. Thankfulness, the real kind, is a way of life. It is not contained to one day, one month.

 

True thankfulness is shown in 1 Chronicles 16, when King David and all his people made sacrifices, music, and poetry declaring their love for the Lord. It is praising Him on the beautiful days and in the blackest of nights.

 

Take a deep breath and a moment to think. And then praise Him!