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As Thanksgiving Day approaches, Americans tend to spend more time reflecting on being thankful. For some people, having a heart of gratefulness may seem difficult. Many people are dealing with daily life struggles like health issues, financial difficulties, broken relationships, and the list goes on. For some, it is a ruthless and never-ending barrage and it can be difficult to realize all that you have to be thankful for.
However, there are reasons EVERYONE has to be thankful, no matter your current situation.
1. You are alive
Now for some, that may not seem like a blessing today but let me explain why it is. You are alive because God made you. He specifically looked at the world and said that it needed you in it! The Bible says that not only did God make you but you are “wonderfully made” (Psalms 139:13-15). Regardless of the bad choices you have made in life, or the bad “stuff” you have encountered in this world, while there is still breath in you there is an opportunity to glorify your Creator and bless others. You can be thankful for that! Even if you have no mobility, no income, no friends, when “you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Being alive means you still have the opportunity to say a kind word, do a good deed, smile and be thankful that God chose to create the one and only you!
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.”
Psalms 139:13-15
2. You can live eternally
Actually, you WILL live eternally, not in your current body and not in this world as you currently know it, but your spirit will live forever. The question is where will you live eternally (Matthew 7:13-14)? Today, regardless of your past, you can choose to spend eternity in heaven with God (John 10:27-30), and that is definitely something to be thankful for! The alternative is to be forever separated from God in the pits of hell (John 3:36, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Matthew 13:49-50). If you have already accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, then rejoice! Be thankful that Jesus was willing to pay the sacrifice for your sins that you might reside in His presence eternally. If you have not yet put your trust in Jesus, be thankful that for the moment at least, there is still time. Don’t delay, speak to Him and acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness, ask Him for that forgiveness, and make the decision today to live the remainder of your breaths according to His will. Then rejoice! Seek a Biblical-based Christian church where you can be mentored and learn more about Christ.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
John 10:27-28
3. You are loved
You may feel like there is no one on this planet that even knows you exist, much less loves you. But, guess what? Your Creator loves you even if it seems like no one else does! Remember, God intentionally made you! And beyond that, He loved you so much that He was willing to send His only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die for you so that you might have that eternal life in heaven (John 3:16). Yes, He loved you enough to die for you! He didn’t do that because you deserved it, He did it because He loves you and wants to spend eternity with you (Romans 5:6-8). Now, that is certainly something to be thankful for!
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:6-8
4. You have access to the internet
Unless by some chance this article was printed and you are reading it from paper, you have access to the internet. That might seem like a strange thing to be thankful for, but with access to the internet, the world is open to you in ways previous generations did not get to enjoy. You can travel the world, experience different cultures, learn to cook, learn a new language, learn ANYTHING if you have access to the internet. All without leaving your chair. You are not limited in what you can learn, that is something to be thankful for! (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
5. You can read
Now I realize there may be some of you that cannot read and this article is being read to you by someone else. If that is the case, then give thanks that someone is willing to take the time to do that (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). You may have an electronic device that reads the words for you. Be thankful for the technology that enables that! If you are able to read yourself, be thankful for those that taught you and the opportunity to learn to read. Like the internet, being able to read (or being read to) opens up the world of learning and imagination. It facilitates communication, enables you to follow written instructions, and so much more. Being able to read means you can examine God’s Word (the Bible) for yourself and see just how much He does love you. You can learn His will for your life (2 Timothy 3;16, Jeremiah 29:11-13).
“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will see Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
6. You can see (and/or hear)
If you can’t see and are exposed to this article by someone (or something) reading it to you, then you can hear. Be thankful for that! If you are reading with your own eyesight (even if it is only good enough to barely make out the words), be thankful for that! God has made such a beautiful world in which we live. You can use your sight and/or hearing to explore that world. Your sight and/or hearing alerts you to danger, it enables communication, it allows you to read or be read to. Be thankful for all your senses which permit you to fully engage in and enjoy your surroundings (Psalms 8:3-9, Psalms 104:24-25).
“O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of your possessions. There is the sea, great and broad, in which are swarms without number, animals both small and great.”
Psalms 104:24-25
These six things are just the beginning of the list of what we all can be thankful for. I could list many more (e.g. God always keeps His promises, the earth continues to turn on its axis, etc.). I encourage you to take a few moments, not only during this holiday season, but every day of your life, and ask “what can I be thankful for today?” Every breath you take, the very air you breathe, the water you drink are all a gift from God. “This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Give thanks every waking day for God has given you another chance to enjoy His creation and spread His Word.
Who are the people in your life that you are thankful for? How about picking up the phone and letting them know? If you have the opportunity to tell someone you love them, then don’t waste the opportunity, do it today! Don’t wait until their funeral to say good things about them. Why not tell them when they are still alive and can actually hear it and be blessed by it? Write them a letter or send a card.
ChristianBook Distributors has many choices of reasonably priced cards that would be great for that. If you can’t think of the words to say yourself, let the card say it for you.
It is true that people tend to hang on to cards from loved ones. I know that I have a folder full that I enjoy going back through and rereading from time to time!
Final parting thought:
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” – Psalms 100:4-5
Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
Related Articles:
Five Reasons Why We Should Give Thanks to God
Seven Ways to Show Gratitude
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