By: Denny

I have found that I most often hear the Holy Spirit speaking to me when I’m doing everyday activities. Some people can set aside a quiet time with the expectation and purpose of hearing his voice. I’ve tried that, but my mind gets distracted too easily on the things on my “To Do” list. When I’m doing mundane things that don’t require much focused thought, is when the Holy Spirit drops a one-liner on me that causes me to pause, listen, contemplate, and meditate on what He is saying. Our weekday routine is that we’re up at 6:00 AM, Lucy fixes breakfast then takes a shower and gets ready for work, while I clear the table, feed the dogs, pack her lunch, then do the dishes. This morning I was loading the dishwasher when the Holy Spirit spoke so plainly to my spirit saying, “Are you, and can you be thankful for the hard and difficult situations you are facing right now, or only when things are going well, and you’re being blessed?” “Are you thankful only for the material blessings I’ve given you, or for the things I’ve done, doing, and about to do that you can’t see?” I got the point and had to pick up my pen and write this.

We are two days away from celebrating Thanksgiving. It’s a time when families will be gathering around a table loaded with food. Women will be busying themselves in the kitchen with preparing the meal and exchanging recipes, while guy talk, and football happens in another room around the TV. There will be conversations reliving past events and catching up on current happenings. There may be games both outdoors and indoors for kids to play with cousins and siblings. When all is ready, extra tables and chairs have been set up, the food will be on the table or served buffet style. There will be a call to attention, a quick prayer of thanks and blessing said over the food, the feasting begins, and that’s pretty much what Thanksgiving will be like for most Americans including myself. Thanksgiving, in terms of being a holiday, has drifted into the realm of the superficial as so many others have also. Growing up we learned about the Pilgrims and the hardships they suffered in getting here and that first winter. We saw artist renderings of a long table plenteously ladened with all kinds of food, where both settlers and Indians were seated. They were thankful for the harvest, and that’s the basis that has evolved into our tradition of Thanksgiving becoming centered around food. However, the pilgrims weren’t only thankful for the food, but more importantly gave preeminence to thanking God for his faithfulness when times were hard. It was a way of life for them, which even if they didn’t have a plentiful harvest, they would still have been thankful. I wonder if that will be the mindset of those gathered around tables this Thanksgiving.  (Habakkuk 3:17-18) Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls – Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Can you also say that?

There is a power in being thankful and giving thanks that is often underestimated and misunderstood. That power is released when God is the one to whom our thanks is given, regardless of our circumstances. We read in Acts 16 that Paul and Silas were imprisoned in chains for preaching the gospel and casting out a demon from a girl who was taunting them. At midnight, they, being thankful, were praying and singing to God. He heard them and suddenly there was an earthquake that set them and everyone else free. As a result, the jailer and his family came to faith in Christ when they heard the word of the Lord through Paul. (1Thessalonians 5:18) In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. The pivotal word is IN. For those who have faith and trust in God, Romans 8:28 is an encouragement. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. It doesn’t say that all things are good, but God can turn around even those bad things and work them for good and His glory. Just as God hears our words expressing thanksgiving to Him, He hears our murmurings too, which are just as much directed towards Him. Many people are thankful FOR things, but not IN things. When trials and hardships come, they begin to murmur and be dissatisfied with things and situations. Consider how God delivered His people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt by performing signs, wonders, and miracles. Boy oh boy were they joyful and thankful! Yet, when He led them into the wilderness, and things got rough, they began to murmur against Him and desired to go back to Egypt. Their unthankfulness brought about suffering and death to many. Being unthankful also results in spiritual darkness. (Romans 1:20-21) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Words have power, otherwise why did Jesus say in Matthew 12: 36 that for every idle and careless words we speak we would have to give account of them in the day of judgment. I don’t know about you, but I want my words to express thanksgiving, not complaining. In Luke 17:11, ten men who were lepers came to Jesus to be healed. All ten were healed, and went on their way, but only one returned giving thanks and glory to God. I’m guessing, but I’d like to think that man lived a lifestyle of thankfulness. Jesus said, (verse 17) “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” I believe He is still asking that today. Hopefully you aren’t one of the nine.

There is another very important aspect and principle of giving thanks that is often overlooked. Here is a little experiment that you can do. Notice the people you encounter. Do they act and look like they just ate a dill pickle? Being as inconspicuous as possible, look at people during a church service. Do they have the same expression? Someone can sit through the whole service and not feel God’s presence, while the person in the next row is getting blessed and excited. It’s possible the former one may have an attitude or root of unthankfulness. Many Psalms begin with, Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! (Psalm 95:1-2) Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to him with psalms. (Psalm 100) Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. Our thanksgiving and praise is the gateway into God’s presence. Many long to see more prayers answered, bondages broken, people saved and healed, and the Holy Spirit be released to do those greater things through us that Jesus spoke about. It begins with a thankful heart because thanksgiving is a lifestyle and more than a holiday.