Hunger for Thanksgiving
What is the opposite of thanksgiving?
Not the holiday, but the action we celebrate—what is the opposite of being thankful?
All of us who’ve grown up in America know about the food and the friends and the family and the feasting …
We all know that it’s a time to be thankful for the things that God has given us throughout the year …
Click here to watch last Sunday’s Thanks Giving Service!
But many times in the busyness, in the routine, in the trenches of daily living…
The whole thanksgiving thing can get passed over as a platitude.
A holiday prayer we mindlessly nod at on our way to fork some hot turkey.
We think we know what thanksgiving is, but sometimes we can understand a thing more clearly if we look at what it is not….
If I was to say what the opposite of thanksgiving is, it’s more than just “feeling ungrateful…”
It would be words like:
Distracted.
Hurried.
Divided priorities.
Resentment.
Bitterness.
Unforgiveness.
Isolation.
Contempt.
Control.
Fear.
Withholding.
We all have these things in our lives.
Actually, these thanksgiving-opposing words describe the atmosphere in which we live.
Words that flow against the natural, authentic thanksgiving God has designed us for.
Words that lock up our hearts .
Words that block our minds from the presence of God already with us.
And even though we gather to feast and be grateful at Thanksgiving, sometimes that very gathering can amplify the opposite of thanksgiving in us and around us.
This is not to get waylaid in negativity…
But to increase our hunger for truly authentic thanksgiving that undermines the choking atmosphere around us, and erupts with a Holy Spirit filled thanksgiving from our hearts.
The first step isn’t “make myself feel more thankful”…
But share with God authentically about what is getting in the way.
What is the opposite of thanksgiving that you’re experiencing?
And make that into a prayer,
“Jesus I’m really struggling to be thankful this year. My life is so busy. My heart is so frustrated. I feel tired. I feel weary. And I don’t want to live there without you.
“Would you renew in me Your Spirit of Thanksgiving this week? It has to be You in me. But even now I want to say I’m thankful that You’re here. And I asked you to open my eyes to the tremendous amount of blessings that you’ve given me spiritually and physically, in your name.”
And then just rest with the Lord.
See what it’s like to be in His presence.
Because His presence is the atmosphere of Thanksgiving.
See you Sunday as we launch our new series, “The Journey to Bethlehem.”
“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15-19
Happy Thanksgiving!
Pastor Dave