Be Thankful!

And the Main Thing is...?

Now is the time of year when I feel such gratitude for the blessings of nature, for my family, and for the abundance of earthly riches God has given me.

But isn’t it interesting that during the very season when I should be overflowing with praise and service to show my gratitude, I seem to have overloaded my schedule with activities and shopping lists, tasks and deadlines. Thus, instead of overflowing with gratitude and praise, I sometimes feel like I’m choking with stress.

Certainly at Thanksgiving, of all times, I know what my priorities should be. Right? It shouldn’t be that hard to keep the main thing the main thing. And the main thing is taking this special time not just to enjoy God’s gifts of Family and an abundant Thanksgiving feast; the main thing is to PRAISE him for family, feast, and all the blessings of life. Do we do that? Does he want us to?
He does.

He ordained certain traditions and ceremonious offerings for his people to show their gratitude for his love and mercy. In Leviticus 7:11-12 he set out rules for a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the Lord. If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.”

We don’t have to perform the sacrifices and ceremonies of the Old Testament today because Jesus fulfilled the law by giving the ultimate sacrifice: His Life. But we are still commanded to be thankful and to express our gratitude to God:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17)

We also have the Psalms and stories of David to show us just how thankful God wants us to be.
I think the reason God called David “a man after my own heart, who will do all my will” is because of David’s willingness and ability to praise and thank Him constantly. His recognition of who God is and all He does for us is what made David special. He always thanked God with such enthusiasm, as in Psalm 92:1-5
“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,
To proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
To the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.
For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord;
I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
How great are your works, O Lord,How profound your thoughts!”

And David’s constant state of thankfulness is an example to us: In Psalm 34:1 he says, “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
And in Psalm 119, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgements. . .Seven times a day do I praise thee. . .”
“Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” (Psalm 107:22)

What would it be like to have King David at the Thanksgiving table? I’ve been thinking about that since I’ve been writing this, and I’m looking at Thanksgiving in a new way. I hope he doesn’t mind eating in the breakfast room, since that’s where our big table is. Where should I seat him? Maybe between my sons. Or next to my granddaughters, but, no, one would be left out. I think we’ll give him Mike’s place at the head of the table. And we will definitely ask him to say the Blessing. And I’ll serve hors d’eouvres before dinner so we won’t be so hungry, because I know David’s thanksgiving prayer will not be a short one. And I wonder if he likes dressing or mashed potatoes. Better have both. I hope my yeast rolls rise this year; Oh wait! Maybe I should serve some unleavened fried cakes mingled with oil? And I’ll make real whipped cream instead of offering Cool Whip for the pumpkin pie. . . .
What was I saying about the main thing? I want to be more like David: constant and uninhibited in my thankfulness to God.

“I will praise God’s name in song
And glorify him with Thanksgiving.” (Psalm 69:30)

”Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,
and make a joyful noise unto him with praise.” (Psalm 95:2)

Beloved Father, keep me during this upcoming busy season from getting caught up in schedules and to-do lists. I am so thankful for all that you have blessed me with. I see you in the changing world around me. Give me peace and calm, and may I be a blessing to my family and friends, always remembering what is important, and what is not. Through Jesus, thank you. Amen

Lynn Anne Hughes
Stephenville, Texas