First, let me remind everyone that the holiday is a continuation of the tradition started by the Pilgrims. To them, being thankful had only one meaning – and that was that they were thankful to God for all His mercy and blessings.
Remembering this single fact quickly reveals that much of the thankfulness today is hollow – because it is not a thankfulness to Him Who gives you the very air in your lungs. People have grown strangely silent about the One to Whom they are thankful.
Is it right to say you are "thankful" but never tell anyone Who you are thankful to? People who are truly thankful don't have a problem mentioning God and what He has done for them. I don't know about you but has done much for me, and it all has come to me through the Lord Jesus Christ – His Son.
Our first President, on November 26, 1789, dedicated Thanksgiving Day "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God." Although there has not always been a Thanksgiving Day (to our nation's shame), each believer can make sure to take some time today (and from now on) to give God thanks for all His blessings.
Probably most people reading this in America have already eaten their Thanksgiving dinner. I hope it was good. I recognize that there are right now many homes in the northeast who don't have power today, and may not have it restored for several days. They need our prayers.
Secondly, let me be so bold (but kind) to say that our future blessings as a nation largely depend on our being thankful to Him today. Many of us would find it difficult to continue to be helpful to people who are not willing to at least say "Thank you."
America greatly needs God's blessing again. He alone made it great, and He alone can enable our country to continue to be great. The Bible tells us that any blessing He gives can be taken away, and I know that we are seeing His blessings being removed a little at a time. Can you see it?
He gives us the promise, though, of renewed blessing if we will thank Him and turn from hearts and lives that largely neglect Him. He has said: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (II Chronicles 7:14).
Are you thankful enough to serve Him? Don’t let having a grateful heart end after today’s celebrations. He is worth giving your life to.
* * * * * * *
Photo Credit: Unchanged; from https://www.flickr.com/photos/buxtrosion/2058034240
* * * * * * *
Keywords: Thanksgiving, Pilgrims, thankfulness, thankful, America, Washington, grateful, God, blessing