It seems like now-a-days you go from October Halloween straight to December Christmas. The stores no sooner put the Halloween candy on sale when they start putting out the Christmas decorations. Black Friday has become a crazy frenzy of greed which people focus on, and they over look the day before which is suppose to remind us to be thankful for what we have!
Thanksgiving is the time in America where we are suppose to give thanks to God for the things that we have, the people we love, and the blessings that God has given us. Paul says in I Thessalonians 5:18, "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." The verses around it tell you to rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks.
Why is there rioting? Because people aren't thankful. Humankind isn't naturally thankful for the blessings they have. We have one day which we are suppose to remember to give thanks, but there are 364 days a year where all we think about is what we want that we don't have!
Until we go through real trials, we don't truly understand how to be thankful. The Apostle Paul went through some things that gave him the ability to be content despite the circumstances that were going on around him.
We live in country where no one is thankful. They sit around with their hands out yelling "Give me...". This election really brought it out! They want free college, free housing, free groceries, free citizenry, etc. They aren't happy with what they have, no matter how good.
Being thankful can be very hard when things are going wrong, when we aren't getting our way, when the prognosis comes back bad. But, God's will is for us to be thankful in everything because what we go through is His will in Christ Jesus concerning us. Why? Because He has promised that it will work together for good! If you love God, if you are called according to His purpose, you can bank on that!
Every trial, blessing, hardship, struggle, joy, etc. mold you into what God wants you to be. These things change us to enable us to help others who are going through troubles. They help us to have compassion on those who are struggling. It's during those times that others see Christ in us!
So, how do we keep from being the Grinch that stole Thanksgiving- the person that isn't thankful?
First, you've got to get doubt out of your life. Don't doubt God. He is what He is. IF you doubt His Word, His truth, His power, His love, etc. then you won't be thankful.
Secondly, you've got to get selfishness out of your life. Selfishness is a form of pride- I deserve better.
Third, you need to get worldliness out of your life. Worldly people dwell on things, possessions. God says with food and raiment to be content- that's really all you need according to God!
Fourth, you need to do away with the critical spirit. Most people today criticize everything! They can find something wrong with everybody and everything. Start looking for the blessing that only God can point out. You can't be thankful when you're being bitter about everything.
Fifth, you need to be patient. Impatience keeps us from recognizing God's hand in His time. God waits until the last minute. Satan offers things instantly, immediately. God has a time table, and you need to learn to wait on Him.
Sixth, you need to get rid of coldness. A cold, indifferent heart will keep us from being thankful.
Lastly, you must get rid of rebellion. A stubborn spirit that tells God, "I don't care what you say or what you want. I'm doing it my way!"
God didn't make you an unthankful spirit! You weren't born a grinch. But, you can become that way by not getting rid of these things in your heart and in your life. Don't be the Thanksgiving grinch. Remember to be thankful for what God has blessed you with!
