Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: …

(Psalm 50:14)

The practice of giving thanks is woven into the fabric of biblical faith. The psalms are filled with thanksgiving, Paul and his missionary friends give thanks at many points in their journey, Hannah gives thanks when God answers her desperate prayer and one of the men healed of leprosy returns to give thanks after he is healed. The list of grateful characters is endless.

When we shift our focus to giving thanks, God takes center stage, while we fade into the background. It is no longer about us but about him. We are reminded in our testimonies of thanksgiving, that our God is generous, caring, protective, forgiving, merciful, loving and so much more. We are reminded that the things of this world are temporary (including the big feast on our tables). God alone is constant, and God is all we need.

So, this Thanksgiving, make your home a place of worship. Offer unto the LORD God Almighty, our King of Righteousness, a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. And as our voices rise, may we be grounded in joy, in grace and in a peace that surpasses all understanding. In the words of the Easter Brothers in their gratitude song titled, “Thank You Lord, For Your Blessings on Me.”, let us acknowledge that despite everything else:

There's a roof up above me; I've a good place to sleep
There's food on my table; And shoes on my feet
You gave me your love Lord, And a fine family
Thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me

Have a truly blessed Thanksgiving! May our litanies of praise fill the air and rise up to heaven. May they be a sweet sound in God’s ears. AMEN.