by Tammy Phillips
November 21, 2022
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD [for] His goodness, And [for] His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing” [Psalm 107:21-22 NKJV]
According to Websters 1828 Dictionary, Thanksgiving is the “act of rendering thanks or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies and a public celebration of divine goodness AND also a day set apart for religious services, specially to acknowledge the goodness of God, either in any remarkable deliverance from calamities or danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of his bounties. The practice of appointing an annual thanksgiving originated in New England.”
The biblical definition of thanksgiving from Strong’s Concordance is: to give praise, give thanks, a thank offerings, and a confession. Thanksgiving finds it roots in theHebrew word, “yada,” which means to hold out the hand; physically, to throw at; especially to worship with extended hands; cast out, make confession, praise.
My simple definition of thanksgiving is to give God a shout out! It is to give credit where credit is due to our good, good Father.
Many of us already practice thanksgiving…to people. We stand and clap when a performer or a person does something superior. We raise our voices in exultation when our child or grandchild perform a great act. How many times did I raise my hands, raise my voice, and shout out for my favorite football team this weekend? Countless is the answer. I do not who you were giving your praise to this weekend, but I bet you gave a few shout out’s! Do we give God countless praise?
I enCOURAGE you to “offer to God thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High.” [Psalm 50:14 NKJV] Purpose this week to stop and give our Lord more “shout out’s” than normal. Definitely, stop and give Him praise on the day that was set apart in the United States to do just that. I challenge you to stop many times during the day this week and from now on to remember where your life, love and blessings come from. Unashamedly, throw up your hands and give our Savior a shout out! Let’s ake the world a different place with our attitude of gratitude.
“A Psalm of Thanksgiving.
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness.
Come before His presence with singing
Know that the LORD, He [is] God.
[It is] He [who] has made us,and not we ourselves.
[We are] His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And] into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, [and] bless His name.
For the LORD [is] good. His mercy [is] everlasting,
And His truth [endures] to all generations.” [Psalm 100:1-5 NKJV]
Complete in Him 