My Dear Sisters,
The Holidays can be stressful and sometimes lonely times. Often we forget God is with us and knows our every need. The whole purpose of Thanksgiving is to have a day of remembrance and gratitude for all the blessings that the Lord has brought to us, but we can get lost in the celebration and wind up discouraged.
I am looking at my list of things to do before Thanksgiving which is this Thursday. The Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Thes. stand in sharp contrast to my racing heart and desire to cram too much into each day.
For this is God’s Will, for you, in Christ Jesus.
1 Thes 5: 16-18
Paul’s letter applies to us today, not just the people of ancient Thessalonica, to whom the letter was originally written. What a marvelous thing that God wants communion with us, through His Son, Jesus Christ, how amazing is that?! We are not just flesh and blood, the Spirit of God dwells within us. Our God desires to be with us, what a gift we have to be thankful for. Joy, praise and thanks this should be our attitude not just on Thanksgiving, but every day, filled with an overflow of gratitude for His blessings.
Always give thanks, continuously, and in ALL circumstances we are to give thanks. Today’s circumstances may be tough, but the Lord works from the vantage point of eternity. He will bring good from the pain and suffering of our lives. There will come a day when He will wipe away every tear. He has promised us that, and so we keep our focus there, and live in hope.
We need to give thanks from the inside out. Starting with our heart, the love of God, moves outward through our behaviors and into the world. His love changes everything.
God intended us to live, not as rushing, crazy, plastic people trying to have the perfect thanksgiving, but as true worshipers whose hearts are centered on Christ. And we do this by the power of His Holy Spirit. We live with eyes focused on eternity and not on present circumstances, we obey Jesus’ instruction to love God and love others
-M
