A Time Of Thankfulness

By Brenda Gittens
        

We are at this time of year again when we celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a time where most come together with family and friends, a time of cooking family recipes and eating the wonderful food around the table, reflecting over family stories and memories, and just enjoying a time of good old down home tradition!
However, during this time we shouldn’t forget the source of our thankfulness – what it is, why we’re doing it, and to whom we’re giving it to.
To thank means to express gratitude. Thankfulness means an expression of thanks and to be glad. Thanksgiving means the act of giving thanks, a prayer expressing gratitude; also the fourth Thursday of November is declared and observed as a legal holiday for giving thanks for divine goodness.

Now that we know what it is and why we are doing it, we should know to whom we are giving it to and that is Jesus our Lord.

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. (Colossians 2:6-7, NLT).

As believers, we don’t have to wait until the fourth Thursday in November to give thanks or celebrate a time of thankfulness. It should be done always! And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20, NLT). There should be a time of special thanks and prayer each day in our lives. We can pray and give thanks for family and friends, our own requests being met, and we can also give God thanks for all of the material and spiritual blessings that we have received from him. Remember also, to give thanks with a grateful heart!

Scripture Of The Day: “And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians 5:20 (NLT).

Brenda Gittens is a worship evangelist who travels throughout the California Bay Area ministering in song to churches, prisons and various outreach events. Her CD project, “Real Praise/True Worship,” will be released October 2011, and her book, “The Simple Word Devotional” will be released Spring 2012. Visit Brenda at http://www.brendagittensministries.com.