“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. However, I have heard from many people that they are having trouble being thankful this year. We have violence and protesting in the cities over our government, and violence and protesting in North Dakota over corporate America. It is hard to remember a time when our country has been so sharply divided. So this Thanksgiving, I want to remind you of Psalm 136:1, because in it are two important keys to thankfulness. First of all, we have to ask, “To whom is our thankfulness directed?” Our culture has made thankfulness into some vague sense of happiness that has no direction. However, to truly say “thank you,” you must have someone to which you are directing that thankfulness. Psalm 136:1 clearly tells us to give thanks to God. There is nothing wrong with saying “thank you” to people and organizations during this time of year. But in doing so, we must understand that the most beautiful and pure things truly come from God, even if they are expressed through people or organizations; “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). Secondly, we have to ask, “What are we thankful for?” Our thankfulness has a tendency to be incredibly self-centered and short-sighted. Again, there is nothing wrong with being thankful for people and things during this time of year, but all of them will eventually let you down. When our thankfulness is centered on God’s love, we can know with confidence that we will never be disappointed, even on into eternity. This truth is so important for us to know and remember that it is repeated 26 times in this one Psalm alone!

God of all creation, fill us with a thankful heart today, not because of our world or circumstances, but because of Your unending goodness and love for us.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon <><