The Lifestyle of Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope this holiday finds you well as we continue to navigate this year of craziness. It’s also my hope that you have great food, great naps, and great times with family and friends. This is a time to be thankful and to remember how God has brought us through the good, the bad, and the ugly. There’s no doubt, this year has brought all three of these and more.

However, we can be thankful today, no matter our circumstances because of who God is. This isn’t to sound super-spiritual but rather, it’s to be spiritual in the middle of everything going on around us.

In fact, it’s my belief we can have the lifestyle of thanksgiving that is both biblical and needed more than ever. This is because Thanksgiving is an attitude more than it is a holiday, a turkey or pumpkin pie. It’s our posture and position in Jesus.

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:18,

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Notice, we are to be thankful in all circumstances. That means we choose to give thanks, period! This gives hope because Jesus can bring good out of any situation. Now trust me, I know how hard this is and how often I don’t do it in my own life because it’s not our initial inclination. But, when we begin to have the lifestyle of thanksgiving, we will see the big and small things that God does and be grateful and thankful for them all.

When this happens, gratitude will begin to flood our hearts which is linked to joy, peace, and contentment. Isn’t that what we need today? Isn’t this what we’re all looking for? Of course, it is, and in our hearts, we know this is right, and we’re reaching for it.

This challenges most of us because we complain about what hasn’t worked out, what we’re up against and the struggles we feel around us. This is normal as we get caught up in what we see and feel, and it causes us to see the glass half empty instead of seeing, how full God has made it.

But the lifestyle of thanksgiving, not only lifts our thoughts, it also lifts our spirit to worship Him. This is needed right now!

So I hope your Thanksgiving is great, and that you have rest in the midst of this chaos. But furthermore, I hope, we all will choose the lifestyle of thanksgiving and give thanks in every circumstance we face. Because this is where we’ll find God in the good, bad and ugly. This is where we’ll be empowered to worship Him when we don’t feel like it. This is where we’ll be strengthened to walk in love when it’s hard, and this is where we’ll see Jesus show up.

In our lives.

So what could you give God thanks for today?

I encourage you to make a list, begin to write out things that you are thankful for, and let your heart be lifted with praise and worship to God because He’s good. I encourage you to share this list with someone close to you and praise God together. Because it’s always great to share out loud what Jesus has done!

So Happy Thanksgiving and may we all choose the lifestyle of thanksgiving every day that we have!

Have a great day and the best is yet to come!