Thanksgiving Therapy

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.  Psalm 136:1

Our friends in the USA are celebrating their Thanksgiving Day as I write.  Yesterday the President pardoned a turkey!  I'm sure that turkey would be thankful if he'd known what could have been in store for him!  Many are getting together with family from far and wide, a time to be thankful for sure but no doubt not without it's challenges .....people are people!

Thanksgiving is a part of my daily life because I have so many things to be thankful for.  This week I am particularly thankful for 2 friends, (one in Australia and one in the USA), who encouraged me not to forget to write this blog.  It's mid August since I last wrote.  At that time I was preparing to go on holiday in Australia for a month.  I'm so thankful for that wonderful time we had, but it threw me out of routine and I have neglected what I consider to be my God-given gift of communicating God's truth through writing. Actually God had been nudging me to get back writing but I wasn't listening so I am thankful that he nudged my friends to put it in writing so I couldn't ignore it any longer.

You may be going through a time in your life which is so bleak that you can't think of anything to be thankful for.  I get that; I sat with a friend yesterday who is so overwhelmed with fears and the cares of life that the last thing she would probably think of or even want to do is to make room for thanksgiving.  But it's vital to our well-being.  It is something the Bible encourages us to do, even, and especially, in the midst of trials.  ...in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18  Why is it the will of God?  Because thanksgiving does us good!

I was tempted to feel hard-hearted when I encouraged her to look for things each day she could be thankful for, but I know that thankfulness takes our eyes off our circumstances and turns them to God's goodness.  Something changes in our hearts when we cultivate thankfulness.  How many suicides would be averted if the hopeless one would look up and search for one thing to thank God for.  It would open their heart to hope. It would give the God of all hope a window to to ..... fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13  The Holy Spirit is our helper, comforter, teacher.  He is there for us if we will invite him to help us to be thankful.

If you are reading this, you obviously have eyes to see, a working brain to think and God-given breath in your lungs.  There are three things to be thankful for.  If you have eyes to see you can look up at the night sky and be amazed at the wonder of the stars and with your brain you can consider how they all stay in place.  Yes, there is intelligent design - His name is God.  Paul writes about the people who refused to acknowledge God and give Him thanks ..... For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21 CSV)

Is your heart feeling dark and hopeless today, give it some thanksgiving therapy.  There is nothing better.  Remember to continue the therapy until you get a result.  Don't give up and say 'this isn't working'.  If this is already a practise in your life, then share it with someone who needs to learn it.

Prayer: Dear God, help me to remember that it is you who gives me life.  Help me to be thankful for that gift and help me to find ways to demonstrate a thankful heart to those who need encouragement and hope.  in Jesus' name I pray. Amen