Dear Families,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is not just a holiday—it is a way of life! Thankfulness is not only changes our outlook on life, but also sets the tone for our interactions with one another.
As I was growing up, my dad would often ask us at the dinner table, "What are you grateful for today?" Looking back, I see that my dad was not just making small talk, but was actually setting a tone of gratefulness in our home while the last few dinner items were being placed on the table. When it was time to give thanks for the meal, we were much more inclined to be in a genuine spirit of thankfulness.
Scripture commands us to "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). When meeting with royalty, proper protocol must be followed. When entering into the presence of the Lord, the proper protocol is to enter with thanksgiving and praise. Scripture also states that it is God's will for us to give thanks in everything. (See I Thessalonians 5:18.) If we are to experience the presence of God and be in the center of His will, we need to practice giving thanks.
Unfortunately, when we are not grateful for what God has given to us, we are susceptible to the temptations of the enemy. Satan lured Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit by convincing her that God was withholding something good from her. In Romans 1:21, Paul describes the dangerous path towards a darkened heart. The first steps down this slippery slope are failing to give glory to God and a lack of thankfulness for all He has done for us.
May your thanksgiving celebration be the beginning of a year of thankfulness to God and others for the ways they have benefited your life!
In Christ,
David Waller
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