Magnify God with Thanksgiving

Nena Arias | November 25, 2019

As we approach the Thanksgiving season it is time to take inventory of how much we have been blessed in spite of whatever challenges our life has presented, all things seem to work out for good eventually. Especially for those who have deposited their trust in the Lord.

It is a natural expression to be thankful when someone does something for you or gives you something. It is not a good experience when you do something to serve or please someone and they do not acknowledge it or express gratitude for your kind gesture.

There is no one more generous than God. Just imagine how God feels when he sees how much we take him for granted or don’t even take notice that he provides everything we need long before we need it. He is so generous that he even feeds and sustains those who hate him and are constantly doing evil to themselves and to others. We are told he is so generous that: “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). Psalm 112:9 says, “He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

God freely gives his gifts because not only is he generous, but he is also compassionate and the only life-giving force in all of the universe. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17)

Dedicating a day of national thanksgiving is unique in America. Thanksgiving Day is a very significant tradition in our country, one with deep meaning that speaks of who we are as a nation. It should never be referred to as “turkey day”. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It originated as a harvest festival, which was celebrated by the Pilgrims, the English settlers who landed and established Plymouth Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. This memorable day was celebrated after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. This feast lasted three days, with 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims present. Having endured a very harsh winter where almost half of the 102 Pilgrims that arrived had died of disease and hunger, a bountiful harvest followed and was a great reason to celebrate and be thankful to God that he had seen them through.

The early colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrate days of prayer in thanksgiving to God for his many blessings, and so should we. We are greatly blessed!