By Betty Miller
Thanksgiving Season is approaching and traditionally it is a time for all of us to reflect on the things for which we are to give thanks to God. Since so many of God’s people are going through major trials in their lives, many find it difficult to be thankful. When we do face difficulties, that is the time we need to be more thankful than ever, as the Lord has promised us that He will be in our midst to help us overcome every trial and evil thing. Evil things do not come from God. They come from the devil. When we are experiencing bad things, we need to thank the Lord that He is there to help us to overcome them. The scripture tells us that in everything we are to be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
This scripture does not mean that the problems we are experiencing are the will of God for our lives, but rather, being thankful in the midst of our trial is the will of God. We are not thanking God for the attacks of the enemy that bring sickness, poverty, fear and a host of other tribulations, but rather we are thanking God that He is still God and is with us to see us through those tribulations. We are not to allow the enemy to rob us of a thankful spirit and a spirit of joy while we are experiencing challenging and bad circumstances. There is only one way that we can have a joyful heart during our trials and that is to allow the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His faith, hope and love.
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
As Christians we are not to live defeated and down cast lives, but have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to rise above the attacks of the devil and live in victory no matter what is happening in our lives or in the world. In Matthew 24 Jesus speaks of a time in history that mankind will experience unbelievable troubles and sorrows that the world has ever known. He says it will be right before He will come again to this earth to rule and reign. Yet, He speaks these words (“…see that ye be not troubled…”) in the Bible. The only way we can “not be troubled” is to allow the Lord to rule in our lives.
Matthew 24:3-8 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Many times the Lord asks us to do impossible things. He knows we cannot do these things in ourselves, but because He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do them through Him. The rules in the Kingdom of God are just opposite from the rules in the world.
As Christians …
- The way up is down: James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
- The way to receive is to give: Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
- The way to answer criticism is through the Holy Spirit: Matthew 10:19-20 “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”
- The way to receive forgiveness is to forgive: Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
- The way to receive mercy is to be thankful. Psalm 118:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.”
- The way to overcome fear is to know God has your life in His hand and a place in heaven for you. Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Here are some important verses in the Bible regarding thanksgiving:
Leviticus 22:29 “And when ye will offer a sacrifice of Thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.”
2 Samuel 22:50 “Therefore I will give Thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.”
1 Chronicles 16:8 “Give Thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.”
Psalm 50:14 “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High.”
Psalm 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Jonah 2:9 “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”
Luke 10:17-20 “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
Reading these verses we realize we are to be thankful and rejoice at all times no matter what is happening in our lives. Actually, praise and thanksgiving to God will drive out depression, fear and even thoughts of suicide. There is power in the act of thanksgiving and praise. This Thanksgiving holiday it would be good to make a list of things we are thankful to God for. Remember our thanksgiving should be expressed to God. Yes, there is merit in having a thankful spirit, but ultimately our thanks, as Christians, should be unto our Savior, as the Lord told us that the most important thing we are to be grateful about is our salvation and the fact that our names are written in heaven according to the above scripture. We should especially be thankful for our salvation and what Jesus did to obtain it for us. Praise God, if we have accepted Jesus as our savior we are ultimately going to heaven. What wonderful news that is!