Dave’s Monday Blast – November 25, 2019
Happy Thanksgiving! I love this distinctly American celebration. It is so important to focus our hearts on the One from whom all blessings flow (James 1:17). I realize that individuals and families celebrate Thanksgiving for many different reasons, and don’t always acknowledge God’s goodness. Regardless of motive, anytime we take a moment to give thanks, our Father is in some way glorified because that “heart of gratitude” originates from Him.
As INTENTIONAL men we must ask the following two questions as we ponder the significance of this celebration: 1. To whom are we giving thanks? 2. For what are we thankful? Thanksgiving provides us with not only a time to express gratefulness to God for His provision but also a time to teach others about America’s true heritage. Public acknowledgements of the providence of God have been part of the history and traditions of this nation from the Pilgrims, to the Founding Era, to the Civil War, and today. I believe it is important to share the true meaning of Thanksgiving to an increasingly secular culture.
In fact, George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation reveals important information about the meaning of the First Amendment. On Friday, September 25, 1789, the Bill of Rights was ratified by the Senate. The First Amendment was approved by Congress and sent out to the states for final approval. However, after the Framers completed the Bill of Rights, Elias Boudinot, a member of the House of Representatives, said he could not think of letting the session pass without offering an opportunity to all U.S. citizens to return thanks to God for His many blessings. (There it is…to whom and for what!)
Here is the Resolution from the House: “Resolved, that a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States, to request that he would recommend to the people of the United States, a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed, by acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a Constitution of Government for their safety and happiness.”
On Saturday, October 3, 1789, President George Washington declared November 26, 1789, a National Day of public Thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God….
The Proclamation called Americans to prayer with optimism and genuine thankfulness, noting that: “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, Who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy…”
I was always encouraged as a young man to pay attention to how many times the Father mentioned something in His Word. Once was enough of course, but if God repeats something, He REALLY wants us to pay attention! There are at least a couple hundred references in the Word concerning giving thanks and being grateful. So…I figure…He really wants us to acknowledge from “Whom all blessings flow.” I really love 1 Chronicles 16:34. Spend a few moments meditating on the power and truth of this Word.
