Today is the day to give thanks...

Well, blew it today. On Thanksgiving day. I worked today, and instead of being grateful and thankful, I was upset and frustrated with what my coworkers hadn't done today. (I'm still working on getting over it.) I really wish I hadn't gotten so upset over something that isn't going to matter in the long run. I could stand to improve my "thanksgiving."

My Bible's dictionary/concordance defines thanksgiving as "acknowledging God's goodness." I certainly didn't do a good job of that today. I've repented and asked God's forgiveness but now it behooves me to figure out a way to avoid the temptation to complain. So, again looking in the concordance....Psalm 50:23 reads,

Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.

So here's an interesting way to look at giving thanks: as a sacrifice to the Lord. Instead of having to offer lambs to God (that was taken care through Christ), we can offer our thanks, and we do certainly owe Him thanksgiving. We (and by 'we', I mean 'I') need to acknowledge God's goodness.  If I remember that giving thanks is a way to honor God, maybe that will lessen the temptation to complain.

Come to think of it, I cannot think of any religion outside of the Judeo-Christian tradition where the people gave thanks....it seems, especially with the ancient pagan religions, that they were always trying to appease the gods with tribute. Our God wants us to come to Him and give thanks--He doesn't want or need to be appeased (especially since nothing we could do apart from Christ could appease His wrath).

Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation. (Psalm 100)

Isn't it great to have a God that wants us to come to Him? Generally, when one is a guest in someone's home, it is typical for that person to bring a little gift as thanks for their hospitality. In that same way, we should consider our thanks to God as our 'gift', or offering, for His allowing us to come to Him. And this Psalm gives us several more reasons for thanksgiving:

1. He made us. (vs.3)
2. We are His. (vs.3)
3. He is good. (vs.5)
4. His love is eternal. (vs.5)
5. His faithfulness continues to each generation. (vs. 5)

So thanks be to God, who is my Lord and Savior. I thank Him for His goodness and mercy, and forgiveness when my attitude is not where it should be. I ask Him to help me remember these things when I'm sorely tempted to complain. I ask Him to help me break bad habits. Reading the Psalms always seem to help my mood as well.