What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Oct. 31? For Nevada, it’s Nevada Day. Happy Birthday Silver State! For others it may be historical topics that fall on this date, anniversaries, milestone events, there are many.
In Christ Jesus every day is a day to Praise the Lord.
For the sake of this article, let us join our hearts with a Psalmist. Psalms 113-118 are known as Hallel or Praise Psalms. A frequent quoted verse is found in Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
This particular Psalm was sung annually at joyous feasts, especially as part of the Passover observance. The language of this song is in remembrance of God‘s great love and deliverance. In the Old Testament or in the New Testament this song is one of triumph and deliverance. Whether it was referring to the victory of the Exodus or the Triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
It is a joyful and trusting song written and composed for Thanksgiving and Praise of the Lord’s steadfast love, deliverance, protection and care.
For Christians it is also a victory song as we find our lives in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ accomplished complete victory over all of God’s enemies.
Through His life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead, He is our Victor and we are victorious in Him.
Every day is a Thanksgiving day!
The Christian life should be one marked by continued thanksgiving. This is a choice, as well as a command, we are instructed to be thankful.
In other words this life and walk could be called Thanks-Living.
One dictionary describes thanksgiving as a happy emotion, a gladness to have what is given. Gratefulness to the one giving.
By cultivating a life recognizing things to be thankful for, one can overcome many pitfalls in places of deep depression. That’s not to say life isn’t hard and those things won’t occur. Life indeed has many things that are challenging and difficult to endure, even what may be seen as insurmountable, yet in the midst of those things there can be found reasons to be thankful.
Psalm 92 states: “It is good to give thanks to the LORD.”
It takes Thanks-thinking which leads to Thanks-saying.
A Thanks-Living life.
We are calling out to our Fellowship, and to you, if you so desire, a Gratitude Challenge to Cultivate a Grateful Heart, preparing us for a Christ-filled Thanksgiving for the month of November. Starting tomorrow, write down at least one thing a day that you were/are thankful for and why. If that particular thankful thing involves someone else, let them know. The Bible instructs us to encourage one another while it’s called today. If there is anything that we need today, it is to be encouraged and to encourage each other, to uphold one another, to be in prayer for one another, and to spur one another on to good works in Christ.
Grace, Grace,
Blessings to each.
Pat Propster is Pastor at Calvary Chapel
