As we rush towards the busiest time of the year, we start to take stock of many things during this season. Let’s just start a list….
1. Thanksgiving meal, family, thankfulness
2. Tis the season – getting ready for Christmas! Gifts, family, friends, gatherings, decorations, weather, travel, hurriedness.
3. End of the year – past goals, business wrap up, taxes.
4. Beginning of the year – new goals, business plans, annual meetings, taxes.
And in all of these actually quite important and large events that all occur within a 2-month period, we have multiple concerts, school events, church events, family events, community gatherings, work to complete, and things to cross off the list to finish prior to 2025.
Do we even have time for giving thanks?
Psalm 107: NIV “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.”
The Bible has many verses about giving thanks. And not just giving thanks when it’s the holiday or we are in a happy place. The Bible guides us extensively in giving thanks even when we are not feeling very thankful…
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)” Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
I mean, come on – the holidays are busy, and hectic, and we must put up with a lot of stuff that many people are just not comfortable with. Crowds, waiting in lines, traffic, bad weather, thinking about others before ourselves, (yeah, let’s be real, this is a hard one, right?!) We are constantly being fed commercialized stories and banter that is all made to get you into a worldly view of these holidays. To be in a hurry. Because when we are in a hurry, we do not listen to anyone, do we. And we need to be listening to One in particular…
The Bible tells us in Psalm 46:10 NIV “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
When we start to lose our way in this holiday season. When the jingles and new catch phrases become too much – Be still. Listen. God will guide you. He will allow you to see what you have to be so thankful for! We have so much in this life. And even in tragedy and hurt – we can have hope, because Christ is the Hope of the world!
Jesus — the sinless Son of God, died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose from the dead so that we too might have life in eternity. Paul describes Jesus Christ as “our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1) and “the blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). Jesus not only came to bring hope. He IS our Hope.
We have hope because Jesus forgives us and changes us. Knowing Jesus brings peace and thankfulness regardless of possessions, and joy even through hard things. Nothing can come against this hope, because it’s Him. He IS the HOPE!
So as this holiday season starts, and you feel those anxious feelings, sadness creeping in, and thoughts of the world take hold, think about this verse…
Philippians 4:6-7 "Don't be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks"
And stop and listen. You will find Him, because He is waiting for you! Yep, you. And He wants to let you know that He loves you and doesn’t care what you’ve done. He just wants you to know Him.
Make this season a season of giving thanks to the Lord. For He is good, and He loves you so much!
God bless you and keep you.
PTV