This week, here in America, the nation pauses to mark a national day of Thanksgiving. While it is not officially a liturgical feast day, it is certainly a good opportunity to express our gratitude to the Lord for his many blessings. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln made the last Thursday in November a day of thanksgiving, despite the nation being in the midst of a bloody civil war. The day was set aside to remember the nations founding and to be thankful to God for his blessing, even in the midst of conflict. Throughout biblical and church history, God’s people have set aside times of thanksgiving. The psalms are full of songs for such occasions. The Apostle Paul, in most of his letters, reminds the church to be thankful.
We have much to be thankful for! He has blessed us with family, friends, fellow believers, and even a nation in which we can worship freely. For many, the Lord has blessed us with good jobs, plenty of food, a good home, and much more. Yet even if we were not blessed with an abundance of material provisions we have much for which to be abundantly thankful. As followers of Jesus we are thankful for God’s grace, mercy, and salvation provided to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
On this day of national Thanksgiving, as we gather with family and friends, let us set aside time to pray and be refreshed by His Word as we are called to give thanks. We encourage you to use the collect (prayer) of the day below and the Bible reading selection in your devotional time today.
Collect (Prayer) of Thanksgiving
Most merciful Father, we humbly thank you for all your gifts so freely bestowed upon us: for life and health and safety, for strength to work and leisure to rest, for all that is beautiful in creation and in human life; but above all we thank you for our spiritual mercies in Christ Jesus our Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Taken from the ACNA Book of Common Prayer, 2019)
Bible Reading
Psalm 100 (ESV)
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
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