Posts Tagged “thanksgiving”

Give Thanks to God

Thursday, November 28, 2019

If you've ever heard a message on Romans 1, it likely focused on one of three areas:

  • Paul's declaration of the preeminence of the gospel in changing hearts (Romans 1:16-17)
  • That God has made His identity abundantly clear through creation (Romans 1:18-20)
  • A clear denunciation of many things our society tells us that we should accept (Romans 1:26-31) (if you think that's just about sexual perversion, maybe focus on verses 28-31 a little harder…)

I want to focus on one portion of verse 21, though, as it provides a critical fulcrum in Paul's explanation of how we get from the glory of God to the depravity of man (emphasis mine in the text below).

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:21 (ESV)

Paul cites the Romans' failure to honor and give thanks to God as leading to futile thinking and darkened hearts. Rather than focus on all the behaviors that come later in the chapter, let's ruminate on this concept; after all, while “giving thanks” could be interpreted as a behavior, it arises from an attitude. We know how unsatisfying a coerced apology is, and God is not interested in that type of thanks. He wants us to be truly grateful to Him.

While conventional wisdom says that you cannot coerce feelings (as George Strait said, “You can't make a heart love somebody”), Paul's progression here shows us how we can. He highlights how the gospel is the power of God for salvation, and he follows that up with the abundant ways creation should point us to Him. Even if those are the only two things we can ponder, those should fill us with gratitude. Think about it - the God of the universe, the Creator of this world, not only made a wonderful world in which we can live, but also provided a way for us to live with Him forever! We may become so familiar with that concept that it loses its novelty. If you're having trouble being grateful, enlarge your perspective; stepping back and remembering just what we do have for which to be grateful can change our thinking.

Our gratitude shouldn't stop there. Every person reading this has access to power and a global information network; they are also very likely to be reading it in climate-controlled comfort, and on a device powerful beyond prior generations' imagination. They are also very likely to be eating either turkey or ham at some point today. A large part of our culture likes to focus on inequity (perceived or actual), but focusing on what others have that you do not is simply a recipe for feeling either sad or mad. There's a reason the list of sins has covetousness on it (v. 29).

The original Thanksgiving Day was a day set aside to thank God for His provision through the previous year; it was not some amorphous thankful feeling, it was heart-felt gratitude to God. While it is good to set aside time to reflect and give thanks, though, it should not be relegated to one day a year. Gratitude to God should be a daily occurrence in our lives. If you know me, you know that I usually roll my eyes at cheesy sayings; but, here's one anyway…

Today is a gift; that's why it's called "the present"

Recognize each day as a gift from God. If it is refreshing, praise Him for that. If it brings struggle, praise Him in it and trust Him to keep you through it. If you are grateful for people in your life, thank God for them - and then tell them; don't wait for the 4th Thursday in November. Gratitude can inspire encouragement, and that can inspire gratitude in others - a virtuous cycle that was God's intent when He gave us these commands.

Stop Playing and Start Praying

Sunday, January 8, 2012

“Tan!” “I like it on the hook by the door!” “I'm going to Kalamazoo for 32 days!” These are some tame samples of some of the nonsensical things you might have seen on Facebook over the past few years, all coming back to breast cancer awareness. Other diseases have their specific “awareness” advocates as well.

I mused on someone else's status that I wish I needed a game to make me aware of cancer. In the past few years, I have known people who have had to fight breast, liver, kidney, prostate, lung, and bladder cancer; some have won, some did not, and others are still fighting. There are two big reasons that I'm so aware of cancer at this point. The first is that some of these have hit close to home, striking friends and co-workers. The second is through praying for those who have these terrible diseases. While I don't recommend the first, the second is where we'll focus today. Let's start in Philippians.

6...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

Here, Paul sets us up with a negative and a positive instruction. The negative instruction, “do not be anxious about anything,” is a necessary reminder. When we humans are dealing with troubling times among friends and family, we tend to worry for them, on their behalf; when we deal with troubling times in the world at large, our anxiety tends to be more focused on ourselves. Neither of these are acceptable, and Paul continues by giving a solution that works in both cases - tell God about it. However, this is not a heavenly-directed spleen-venting session. Paul uses “prayer and supplication” to describe how we are to take everything to God. Prayer is a reverent request, not a vent and not a demand; supplication carries the idea of a fervent, urgent request. We are to reverently, but fervently, bring our requests to God.

However, there's another piece - “with thanksgiving.” Even in the most dire of circumstances, there are things for which we can be thankful. We can be thankful that we have the ability to pray. We can be thankful for our knowledge of the people for whom we are praying, and for the benefits we have seen in our lives from them. We can be thankful for things that God has done in the past, and the opportunity to see what He will do this time. Being thankful has two benefits. First, it lets God know that we remember His blessings. Second, it helps us; it's very difficult to be worried or angry over something for which we are giving thanks.

This brings us to one of the most curious things about prayer that I've learned over the past few years. Yes, prayer is important, and can lead to big changes in circumstances. But, more than changing God's mind, prayer changes the one who prays. God, though prayer, can reveal His will, and give peace when His will is not the result we are expecting. I think that the best example of this type of prayer was Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane. (emphasis mine)

39And going a little farther He fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

Matthew 26:39 (ESV)

My suggestion, given the above, is two-fold. First, if you are not aware of anyone with cancer, or whatever disease has your attention, remedy that; find someone (at least one, but more if the Lord leads) and start praying for them, and see if you don't see the difference. Then, instead of playing games that can be zany at best, and offensive at worst, post the details of the people for whom you are praying. You'll raise awareness, and you'll be encouraging others to pray as well. That sounds like win-win to me.