Thanks is spoken of over 130 times in the Bible. Giving thanks is referenced nearly 50 times.
So what better time to give thanks than on Thanksgiving?
The past couple of years I’ve done Thanksgiving prayers. Today, I am so full of thanks, I decided to make a little list (to supplement my kid list I started yesterday):
I am thankful for my husband who I met ten years ago (next week).
I am thankful for kisses goodbye in the morning and kisses hello in the evening.
I am thankful I still have both my parents and my sibling alive and part of my life.
I am thankful for music, in all forms, and how it connects me so deeply to God.
I am thankful for sunrises and sunsets as I drive to work.
I am thankful to be the mother of three healthy, funny, energetic preschoolers.
I am thankful my kids still want to cuddle at night and be picked up in the morning.
I am thankful for messes that reflect the hand of God in my life.
I am thankful to have a new fulfilling job and the opportunity to work with smart people.
I am thankful for this cold weather and hot coffee the week of Thanksgiving.
I am thankful that God gave me an opportunity to author a book this year.
I am thankful that, as a result, I’ve had a chance to speak every week which I’m realizing that I love almost more than writing.
I am thankful for girlfriends and soul sisters.
I am thankful for this corner of the internet where I get to visit with you.
The words that glittered on the pages of my Bible this week when I was writing this post are the first words from Paul in each letter he wrote to various faith communities.
After wishing them grace and peace, do you know what he does in his first chapters? He thanks God for them. He thanks God for his fellow sojourners on the imperfect road to know God more and serve Him better.
Today, I am especially thankful for each of you and offer these words – praying these promises for you today.
Ephesians 1 – For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Philippians 1 – I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
I Corinthians 1 – I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.
Colossians 1 – We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people – the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven…
I Thessalonians 1 – We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon 1 – I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus…Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
I Thessalonians 3 – How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
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