Thanksgiving & Faith

How does the practice of "giving thanks" reflect our faith? It reveals more than you might imagine!

Take a moment to reflect on why you express gratitude. In our society, it is often seen as a suitable and courteous reaction in various situations. At times, we feel thankful because we appreciate the result of a particular event. On a day like today, we express gratitude because it is a holiday. However, if expressing thanks is confined to holidays, social occasions, or favorable outcomes, then gratitude becomes an ever-changing objective!

Who cares? You should. Cultivating gratitude nurtures peace and satisfaction within the human soul. It's a mental exercise worth practicing because it shifts our life's focus to where it truly belongs: God's provision. In the end, God "gives everyone life and breath and everything else." (Acts 17:25). Everything we possess boils down to this truth: God provides.

When our gratitude is directed toward God, it profoundly impacts the human soul. It strengthens our faith in God, and such faith is well-founded. If circumstances, situations, or holidays drive our gratitude, we become vulnerable to life's fluctuations. Unstable faith is rooted in something other than God. God remains constant, unchanging "yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

We can "Give thanks continually in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18) only when we keep God at the forefront. As you express gratitude for the numerous blessings in your life, prioritize thinking of God. Recognizing Him as the source strengthens our faith in Him, enabling us to be thankful consistently, as He remains constant. This practice fosters an unyielding inner stability, for God is a steadfast foundation!

Happy Thanksgiving!