Thanksgiving Reminds Us to Give Thanks
- Rick Scarborough
- Nov 22, 2011
Thanksgiving Reminds Us to Give Thanks
I tend to dwell on everything that is wrong…personally, professionally, and politically. I have to work doubly hard at seeing the good in both people and circumstances, because I tend to see everything as black or white. There is no middle ground…no grays…just right and wrong. Worst of all, if I don’t totally lean on the Holy Spirit, I tend to exercise a lot of judgment and extend very little grace. Thankfully, God has been making me increasingly aware of this trait over the course of my life and continues to help me change it.
That’s why Thanksgiving is so meaningful to me. It provides me with an opportunity to pause and consider all the reasons why I should be grateful, and there are many…and that changes my whole outlook on life.
Writing from a prison cell, facing an uncertain fate, the Apostle Paul wrote the following to the Philippian Church: Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! (Phil. 4:4).
He went on to say:
5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Phil. 4:5ff New Living Translation)
A Guaranteed Formula for a Great Thanksgiving Day
During the coming days as you observe Thanksgiving, don’t dwell on your disappointments or shortcomings. And don’t dwell on the shortcomings or failures of others.
Rather, do what Paul recommended to the Philippians:
1. Remember, the Lord is coming soon
2. Refuse to worry about anything
3. Pray about everything
4. Tell God what you need
5. Thank God for all He has done
6. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable
7. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise
Sound too easy? Try it, and see if the God of Peace does not make your Thanksgiving this year the best ever.
I am so very grateful for so very much. My family…my country…and those of you reading this Rick Scarborough Report, who make my calling worthwhile because you care about our beloved nation.
Yes, there is much wrong with America…but God is still on His throne, and He can bring the changes we pray for if we will remain vigilant and faithful. Part of that begins Thursday when we pause to say… “Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of living in the freest nation the world has ever known.”
Happy Thanksgiving!
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