Week of Monday November 25 – December 1
Gratitude - Man as Chaplain
You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” - Isaiah 12:1-6 ESV
Whatever happened to Thanksgiving?
Have you noticed how the store colors and décor changed weeks ago? They switched from orange and black for Halloween to red and green for Christmas. Pumpkins and witches have been replaced by Santa and evergreen trees, and this shift seems to happen earlier every year. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is becoming little more than a “speed bump” between Halloween and Christmas. You probably know someone who has had their Christmas decorations up for weeks, maybe even months!
It reminds me of a cartoon that depicted a Pilgrim husband and wife on Thanksgiving Day. The husband stands next to the steaming turkey and trimmings on the table while the wife tries to multitask and put up a Christmas tree. The husband asks: “Can that at least wait until after dinner?” Good question!
In my estimation, Thanksgiving is becoming a vanishing holiday. Could part of the reason be that we are no longer a grateful people? Instead, we grab a quick bite of turkey and pumpkin pie, then huddle for the ballgames or Christmas movie marathons or head out the door for an early Black Friday sale to join the grab-fest that has become the “Christmas season.” It feels like the true spirit of Thanksgiving is being overshadowed.
Now, before you label me “Scrooge” or “Buzzkill Boykin,” let me remind you that Scripture repeatedly encourages us to give thanks to God—and for good reason! Isaiah 12 highlights why believers should offer our heartfelt gratitude to God. The first reason is in verse 1: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.” Thanks to Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross, where he took our place and punishment, God is no longer angry with us! That’s a huge reason to be grateful to God!
Moreover, instead of anger, God offers us comfort. In fact, the apostle Paul calls Him “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:3b-4). That is the goodness of God!
But that’s not all. Because God is our salvation (verse 2): “I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” We have no reason to fear because God is our strength; He puts a song in our hearts in the heat of battle, and He is our deliverer. Here, Isaiah is referencing the Victory Song from Exodus 15, which celebrates how God defeated Pharaoh’s armies and sent them to a watery grave in the Red Sea. Personally, I have experienced God's deliverance from danger and death multiple times, and for that, I am truly grateful.
When we draw from the life-giving “wells of salvation” God has provided for us, it brings us great joy (verse 3). This joy should motivate us to encourage others to “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name” (verse 4). Our gratitude ought to inspire us to “make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth” (verses 4b-5). Finally, our hearts should “Shout, and sing for joy” for great in our midst is “the Holy One of Israel” (verse 6).
Bottom line: don’t let Thanksgiving become just a “speed bump” in the mad dash for the Christmas season. Slow down. Gather around the Thanksgiving table. Pause to give thanks to God. Go around the table and ask for a Thanksgiving testimony to God’s goodness and grace, His provision and deliverance. Remember the Pilgrims who started this tradition in America. Read a Psalm of thanks, and end your time together by joyfully singing about God's goodness. This Thanksgiving week, lead your family in expressing gratitude to God.
- Are you a grateful person who regularly gives thanks to God? Is thanksgiving a regular part of your public prayer life with those you love and lead?
- How do you plan to lead your family on Thanksgiving Day? Check out the Thanksgiving Talking Points and pick out something to use during your time around the table.
- Pray and ask God for the wisdom to lead your family through a meaningful time of giving gratitude to God for His goodness and grace.
Gratitude - Man as Chaplain
You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” - Isaiah 12:1-6 ESV
Whatever happened to Thanksgiving?
Have you noticed how the store colors and décor changed weeks ago? They switched from orange and black for Halloween to red and green for Christmas. Pumpkins and witches have been replaced by Santa and evergreen trees, and this shift seems to happen earlier every year. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is becoming little more than a “speed bump” between Halloween and Christmas. You probably know someone who has had their Christmas decorations up for weeks, maybe even months!
It reminds me of a cartoon that depicted a Pilgrim husband and wife on Thanksgiving Day. The husband stands next to the steaming turkey and trimmings on the table while the wife tries to multitask and put up a Christmas tree. The husband asks: “Can that at least wait until after dinner?” Good question!
In my estimation, Thanksgiving is becoming a vanishing holiday. Could part of the reason be that we are no longer a grateful people? Instead, we grab a quick bite of turkey and pumpkin pie, then huddle for the ballgames or Christmas movie marathons or head out the door for an early Black Friday sale to join the grab-fest that has become the “Christmas season.” It feels like the true spirit of Thanksgiving is being overshadowed.
Now, before you label me “Scrooge” or “Buzzkill Boykin,” let me remind you that Scripture repeatedly encourages us to give thanks to God—and for good reason! Isaiah 12 highlights why believers should offer our heartfelt gratitude to God. The first reason is in verse 1: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.” Thanks to Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross, where he took our place and punishment, God is no longer angry with us! That’s a huge reason to be grateful to God!
Moreover, instead of anger, God offers us comfort. In fact, the apostle Paul calls Him “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:3b-4). That is the goodness of God!
But that’s not all. Because God is our salvation (verse 2): “I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” We have no reason to fear because God is our strength; He puts a song in our hearts in the heat of battle, and He is our deliverer. Here, Isaiah is referencing the Victory Song from Exodus 15, which celebrates how God defeated Pharaoh’s armies and sent them to a watery grave in the Red Sea. Personally, I have experienced God's deliverance from danger and death multiple times, and for that, I am truly grateful.
When we draw from the life-giving “wells of salvation” God has provided for us, it brings us great joy (verse 3). This joy should motivate us to encourage others to “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name” (verse 4). Our gratitude ought to inspire us to “make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth” (verses 4b-5). Finally, our hearts should “Shout, and sing for joy” for great in our midst is “the Holy One of Israel” (verse 6).
Bottom line: don’t let Thanksgiving become just a “speed bump” in the mad dash for the Christmas season. Slow down. Gather around the Thanksgiving table. Pause to give thanks to God. Go around the table and ask for a Thanksgiving testimony to God’s goodness and grace, His provision and deliverance. Remember the Pilgrims who started this tradition in America. Read a Psalm of thanks, and end your time together by joyfully singing about God's goodness. This Thanksgiving week, lead your family in expressing gratitude to God.
- Are you a grateful person who regularly gives thanks to God? Is thanksgiving a regular part of your public prayer life with those you love and lead?
- How do you plan to lead your family on Thanksgiving Day? Check out the Thanksgiving Talking Points and pick out something to use during your time around the table.
- Pray and ask God for the wisdom to lead your family through a meaningful time of giving gratitude to God for His goodness and grace.