Today is Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, but originated as a harvest festival. Thanksgiving has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789, with a proclamation by George Washington. The celebration was intermittent until the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, when Thanksgiving became a federal holiday in 1863, during the American Civil War. Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
The event that Americans commonly call the “First Thanksgiving” was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. This feast lasted three days and was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims. The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating “thanksgivings”—days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as a military victory or the end of a drought. [Taken from Wikipedia. For more, go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States).]
Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:
As the colonists were used to having days set aside to pray and give thanks, today let us be mindful to give thanks. We have much to be grateful for: our health, our family, food on the table, a place to live, friendships, freedom of worship, and SO much more. May we all take time today and pause to give thanks for His bountiful blessings.
Challenge yourself to have an attitude of gratitude. Here are a few facts:
- It improves your health
- It builds strong relationships
- It causes you to sleep better
- Helps one deal with adversity
- Helps with productivity
- Causes happier memories
- Even reduces depression
- Gratitude makes you happier, giving people positive emotions
Here are some scriptures regarding thankfulness, all taken from the Passion Translation:
- “And in the midst of everything, be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
- “Everyone come meet His face with a thankful heart. Don’t hold back your praises; make Him great by your shouts of joy!” Psalm 95:2
- “Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, who called you to peace as part of His one body. And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
A prayer you can pray:
Heavenly Father, today I humble myself before you with a grateful heart. Thank you for your goodness and your faithfulness; even when I’m faithless, you remain faithful. Help me to see beyond myself, being Your hands and Your feet to help others. And may I always be grateful, knowing you care for me more than I could ever imagine. You alone hold my life in your hands. May my life bring glory to you – today and every day. In Jesus name, Amen.
Today’s decree:
I’m determined to look outside my world and be grateful for all He has done and is currently doing for me. Today I will be His hands and His feet, sharing the love of Christ to others.
– Ceci Sheets