“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the land He has given you” Deuteronomy 8:10
This weekend we will celebrate Thanksgiving. We look forward to this holiday to spend time with family and friends and eating well.
Years ago, when this nation was younger, the large majority of people lived in the country and were farmers, or labourers. Every harvest was the result of hard work, and it was seen as a gift from God.
Thanksgiving was much more than turkey and stuffing; it was a day set aside to appreciate the harvest, and to thank the Lord for the bounty. Thanksgiving is a day meant to thank the Lord for all the provisions that we have received from the past year.
However, most people today work in cities or in towns and travel to work. Few spend time labouring in the fields, and as a result we fail to appreciate all that goes into growing and providing food.
Somehow we have lost the appreciation of what God provides: sun, rain, summer and winter, springtime and the harvest. As a result, this special day that was once set aside to thank God for all His provisions, has lost its significance; it is just another holiday.
We need to appreciate that everything we have has come from the hand of the Lord, and that He has blessed us so wonderfully. As the verse above mentions, all that we have is a result of the Lord’s promise to take care of us.
He has promised to be there whenever we call upon Him, and He has promised to meet all of our needs. This isn’t because He’s obligated to, but because He is our loving Father, who wants to bless us, and wants us to experience His gracious nature.
Having only one day set aside to thank God somehow seems hollow. Instead, we should be thanking the Lord each day of the year because we know that every good and perfect gift comes from above.
Appreciate all that you have this weekend with the understanding that all that you currently have is a blessing from His hand towards you.
Whatever you have need for, either today or in the future, will come directly from your Provider, your Father.
Therefore, lay your needs before Him, knowing that He cares for you. What a joy it is to know that our God who watches over His children every day.