Happy Thanksgiving

Why is Thanksgiving happy?

its a phrase you say, text, email, write in a card, see on a screen… but let me as you this question: Are you? Why is thanksgiving happy? Maybe this is difficult season for you due to loss or other life circumstances.

Regardless of how you are feeling right now, where you will or will not celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, no matter what is going on in your life, I want to tell you this evening that, yes, Thanksgiving can be happy.

Let’s start with God’s Word. It is our source of truth we filter all our thoughts through and before Thanksgiving was ever a holiday, God’s wisdom was there

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

English Standard Version 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Paul’s closing encouragement to the church at Thessalonica.

Church was under many pressures and struggling to live out their faith.

Maybe you can relate. Pressure in the world around you causing you to lose some joy?

In 9 verses Paul explains 4 responsibilities

1. how we should respond to leaders

2. how to respond toward individuals

3. how to respond toward God

4. how to respond to the Holy Spirit

We are looking at verses 16-18

Rejoice Always Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Pray without ceasing Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

give thanks in all circumstances Ephesians 5:20 “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Ephesians 5:20 ESV

giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,