Thanksgiving

This week continue to practice praise, not only in your private time with God, but in everyday life.  Begin every session this week with a time of private praise using one of the exercises from the first week.   Now, though, we add another aspect of worship to our time—thanksgiving.

 Thanksgiving is similar to praise, but instead of focusing on who God is, thanksgiving focuses on what God has done.  Thanksgiving focuses our attention downward from the ultimate nature of God to where we actually live. We recognize His expressed in the world around us--in sunrise, in the ocean, in family, in all things we experience whether good or bad. Instead of experiencing God as lofty Creator and Sustainer, thanksgiving show him as Lover and as intimate Provider, who has made all things to be an expression of His goodness.   

Why separate praise and thanksgiving? Because if we do not focus first on Who God is, and secondarily on what He has done, then the wonder of His creation can often cause us to miss their Creator.   Keeping the two separate  gives us an opportunity to appreciate Him first, and his blessings sewcond.

Paul reminds us “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you.”  (1 Thess. 5:18.) Thanksgiving is the answer to the riddle of God’s goodness. If God is good, then why are not all things good, too? Thanking god in all things is an acknowledgement of the goodness of all around us. 

 

Thanking God in all things has at least two salutatory effects on us. First, it changes our attitude towards the troubles of everyday life.  We cannot give thanks to God for what we do not acknowledge to be truly good.  If we do give thanks, we are confessing that what happens to us is ultimately in His Hands, and therefore under His protection. A good God approved what comes upon us, and so therefore it must have an ultimately good purpose behind it. 

Today, think of five things that God has done for you, that have made you feel thankful to Him.

Praise Song

 Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, ye creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  music

Thanksgiving Hymn.  

Now Thank We All Our God  music lyrics

Father,  thank you for all the blessings you have given me in my life.  Seeing the many good things that have been given to me,  in so many places, I know that you are a good and giving God. Help me always to be thankful for what you have done. 

In Jesus’ name

Amen