Thanksgiving is upon us. Maybe you can hardly wait for the roasted turkey and cranberry stuffing. Or perhaps you dread the holidays. Or maybe you’re struggling to find a reason to be thankful.
Perhaps you even feel thanksgiving is a bit passe. I mean all year long we hear about keeping gratitude journals. Experts continually tout the benefits of feeling thankful. And you feel like–enough is enough. What is so great about thanksgiving anyway?
One More Reason
Perhaps Psalm 95:2 tells us the biggest perk of thanksgiving:
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2
The experts tell us that gratitude improves our physical and psychological health. Psychologists claim it will enhance your sleep and self-esteem. But if you need one more reason to be thankful, God says thanksgiving will usher us into His presence. What could be better than that?
All year long, I’ve been trying to notice God more in my everyday life. I want to see Him not only in the sacred hour of Sunday worship or the momentous events of life. I want to see Him on an ordinary Tuesday morning, a gloomy Thursday afternoon. I want to see Him while I’m typing at my computer or playing my piano. And sometimes I struggle with this.
However, I’ve found one sure way of discovering God in my everyday world:
Discover at least one thing to be grateful for.
Thanksgiving = Awareness
Somehow the simple act of thanking God makes me aware of His nearness. When I say “Thank you” for the Honeycrisp apple I ate for lunch, I remember His creativity. When I express gratitude for the encouraging words a friend texted me yesterday, I recall His care. When I thank Him for women who regularly join me for Bible study, I rejoice in His gift of sisters in Christ.
And all of it brings me into His company.
Of course, we know we should be thankful for the gifts God has given us. He grants us food and drink, home and family. He graciously gives us forgiveness and salvation through His Son, Jesus. So yes, we want to express our gratitude to the great Provider.
But if you need one more reason to practice thanksgiving, remember Psalm 95:2: Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving.