Thanksgiving is here, which means creating meal plans that will leave you in a food coma and navigating family traditions. In the middle of the hustle, take a moment to rest in the Lord’s presence with a posture of gratitude. Consider these five thankful thoughts for this Thanksgiving season.
- Gratitude is acknowledging our dependency is not on ourselves, but on the Lord and all He is for us.
- He is before all things, in all things, and with us through all things.
- He is the ultimate Forgiver.
- He listens to us.
- He loves us unconditionally.
Gratitude is acknowledging our dependency is not on ourselves, but on the Lord and all He is for us.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
It is by grace through faith that we are saved through faith, not by anything that we can do. It is a gift, freely given, by God. Gratitude is understanding and knowing that we can do nothing apart from the strength, forgiveness, and love of the Lord.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
He is before all things, in all things, and with us through all things.
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17).
Our gratitude is an outflow of knowing the Lord is before our sickness, changing of seasons, marriage, kids and school. He is in all things with us, never leaving our side. He is with us through everything we face, no matter what it may be.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).
He is the ultimate Forgiver.
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19).
“To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him” (Daniel 9:9).
We know what it’s like to swallow our pride as we ask for forgiveness when we step out of line, so we should know to be thankful for the ultimate Forgiver who has forgiven us. Our gratitude is a direct result of the Lord’s forgiveness that we desperately need every day.
He listens to us.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).
When we are crying out alone in our cars, He hears us. When we are crying out in the middle of the night, He hears us. When we whisper under our breath midday, He hears us.
No matter where we are, He listens. No matter what sin we are covered in, He hears us. We can depend on the Lord to listen to us, and we can express our gratitude for Him.
“But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:16-17).
He loves us unconditionally.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6).
The Lord chose us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. There is no greater love than this–one that never changes its pace in our lives. It is one that we can rest in and thank Him for daily.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Gratitude requires shifting our gaze off of ourselves and onto the One who is worthy. When we see our brokenness in light of His Majesty, all we have to pour out is gratitude. Consider these five thankful thoughts during this thanksgiving season.
