Thanksgiving

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 every situation, 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. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:4-8) 

The Lord is near. Christ is the anchor of your life. Christ is the source of your strength. Christ’s power has overcome all principalities and powers. Christ is sufficient for you to have a peace that transcends all understanding. As one who has been richly blessed by divine grace are you able to bow down in thanksgiving today? Lay out before God what has been bottled up in your heart. Then in gratitude make room for God in your life and your workplace by giving thanks that Jesus is Lord of your life and Lord of your workplace. 

By giving thanks you center your life in Christ. When you humbly adopt a posture of thanksgiving you cannot keep your eyes on yourself and what is going on around you. For thanksgiving takes you outside of yourself, outside your circumstances, and orients your focus on your loving heavenly Father. Through thanksgiving you acknowledge that God has created you and blessed you with the skills to do your work. Through thanksgiving you acknowledge that everything you have is a gift from God. Through thanksgiving you acknowledge God’s goodness and generosity. Thanksgiving acknowledges by faith that Jesus is Lord of your workplace; that Jesus placed you there, and that Jesus is in control of what is happening at your workplace. 

At times when life is going well, thanksgiving can keep you from idolatry by keeping you focused on the one who has blessed you in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. At times when the waves of life seem to overwhelm you, and it is hard to see God in the midst of the storm, thanksgiving can keep you from idolatry by keeping you focused on the one who has promised never to leave you or forsake you. Thanksgiving gives you the opportunity to see your circumstances through your Father’s eyes. When you are thankful to God, you can see God’s hand in all that is true, all that is noble, all that is right, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is admirable in the midst of the blessings, darkness and sin that is around you. When you are thankful you will see things that are excellent and praiseworthy. 

May your life be filled with thanksgiving! 

May your heart rejoice in the Lord! 

May he who began a good work in you carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus! 

May your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.