Philippians 4:4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Today is Thanksgiving Day. It’s a great day for reflection. 

When I think about what I’m thankful for, many things bombard my mind simultaneously. That’s a good thing. But, I try to sort through it all and focus on one thing for which I am presently thankful. I look for something out of the norm.

When thinking about what to write concerning Thanksgiving Day, this set of verses came immediately to mind. I think in part because I’ve tried, with the God’s help, to implement these verses piece-by-piece. I’ve focused on words like:

Alway

All men

For nothing

In every thing

With thanksgiving

Peace of God

Through Yeshua Messiah

So in relation to the thought of thanksgiving in these verses, what impacts me are the words:

“in every thing … with thanksgiving.”

Perhaps I’m not unlike most people, but I tend to be more thankful when I’m not in the “in every thing” stage of things. I want to be out of the whatever the “in every thing” thing is. But, these verses fly in the face of that. We’re to be “in every thing … with thanksgiving.”

Here’s the cool thing. With God being my helper, I am learning (ever so slowly) to not work so frantically to get out of that “thing” but to remain in it and experience how I am to walk through it hand-in-hand with my Saviour.

For me, though, that is scary. I don’t know why. It should be just the opposite. My Heavenly Father knows what is best for me. He is right there with me. He knows that for me to grow strong in Him I need to get knocked around a bit. To get my focus off of me. To learn dependence upon Him. To know that “I can do all things through Messiah which strengtheneth me.”

This Thanksgiving, among the many things I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for, I am thankful that:

He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will never leave me nor forsake me. He has loved me in Yeshua from eternity and wants me to be with Him for all eternity. He’s with me “in every thing.”

It doesn’t get much better than that.

I don’t know what your “in every thing” might be right now. Things may be going great. Things might not be going so great. But the truth is, whether great or not, if you’re God’s child through the new birth, your “in every thing” is part of His eternal will for your life, His glory, and perhaps even the salvation of others that see Yeshua through you “in every thing.”

So, what are you Thankful for today? Don’t forget to thank Him.

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

Can’t wait to sit down for the great Thanksgiving meal that is being prepared :-)