Happy Thanksgiving!

Give Thanks.
Loaves and fishes.
Jesus gave thanks to the Father.
Are you giving Thanks today and always?

We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God's grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.      2 Corinthians 4:14-18 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate on Thankfulness.

 

What are you looking at? Paul tells us that we need to fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. Such good advice for the people at the church at Corinth…and for us today. How can we “fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen” when we can’t see whatever it is that we’re “gazing” at? Focusing our attention on things that are important to God—being willing to serve Him…to be His hands and feet here and now. That is my best guess. Like Jesus taught His followers during His Sermon on the Mount.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

Live God’s way—righteously in a way that will please Him and He’ll provide everything we need. Note that it is everything we “need”…not necessarily “want.” That is the point at which we need to remember to be thankful. Not just today, but always.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.          1 Thessalonians 5:18

Traditionally, my family, like so many others, each says what they are thankful for before dinner. It’s a good custom. I recently read about a family that has each person write in a journal what they are thankful for that year. Another group offers specific thanks for encouragement, help, or assistance to a person standing around the circle together before the big meal. Very touching idea. God is the one that ultimately deserves the “Thanks” and praise. All Glory be to God! What’s your family or friends group doing to express thankfulness?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, it is with a grateful heart that I give You “Thanks!” You are worthy of praise, glory, and honor—today and forever. I'm fixing my eyes on You--eternally.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

 

© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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