Being Grateful

" . . . think about such things." Philippians 4:8

The institution of Thanksgiving Day has a meandering history. In 1777 the Continental Congress declared the first national day of thanksgiving after a victory over the British at Saratoga. By 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill that firmly established the fourth Thursday of November as our national holiday of thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Day may have lost some of the national spiritual fervor and intentionality around celebrating a corporate day of thanks to the Almighty, but can be personally useful as a place of spiritual mind-renewal. Along with thankfulness, ("And be thankful," Colossians 3:15), what does God direct us to harbor in our minds?

* " . . . we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Do you monitor what you allow and entertain in your mind?

* "Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song" (Psalm 95:2). Do you spend time regularly expressing thanks and worship - throughout the year - focusing on God's character and lvoing care in your life?

* ". . . a prudent man gives thought to his steps" (Proverbs 14:15). Are you carefully considering, not impulsively or with feelings alone, that next step?

* "I thank my God every time I remember you" (Philippians 1:3). Do you thank God for those dear ones he has placed in your life?

On this day dedicated to gratefulness, take some time to examine the nature of your daily thoughts. How would you characterize them - life-giving or life-defeating? And most importantly, do they follow God's directives?

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Enjoy the day