The Pastor’s Corner

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 4:4-7)

What does Thanksgiving mean to you?

On Thursday, we will celebrate Thanksgiving — a day set aside to remember all the good things you have and enjoy family and eat until you can’t’ eat no more.

So, in advance, let me say, “Happy Thanksgiving everyone.”

I’m thankful that we are a nation that still pauses one day a year to give thanks to God.

Here are three reasons to give thanks.

Reason 1: God is near. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (5) Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” We can give thanks to God because we know that the time of His second coming is drawing near.

That is a promise that we can hang our hats on.

When Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for us and that He would come back to get us so we could be with Him.

I’m pretty sure that He meant it. Reason 2: God answers prayer. We can give thanks to God because we know that He answers prayer. In verse 6, Paul gives a dynamic directive: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

That is a promise from His word but like so many of His promises it has certain conditions that must be met.

Those conditions are always on us — things that we must do or believe or trust God for, in order to see our prayers answered.

Once you understand that God is able and that He’s already done it, what would there be to be anxious about?

Reason 3: God gives you peace. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We can thank God because He has given us His peace; the peace of mind for eternal life and the peace to believe His revealed word for the here and now.

1 Chronicles 16:8 “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.”

I want to ask you today to take time to give thanks to God for everything, you have received from Him.

Give thanks for all the things that you are believing for but have not seen the physical manifestation of it yet.

So, when you are sitting around the table on Thanksgiving Day would you take time to thank Him?

Thank Him for your food and your family and your faith.

Thank Him for all the wonderful things you have received already and those you haven’t seen yet.

Make it a real day of giving thanks.