Our reading and writing Plan for this month – 30 days in Philippians – is guiding us toward realigning our thinking and correcting crooked attitudes. We can see that a mind directed toward thanks and gratitude should be our normal way of thinking.
But, as you know, it doesn’t often take much to knock us off course. It seems like we simply forget to be thankful. And that is in normal times – however there has not been much normal for most of us this year.
The year 2020 has been a continual barrage of events to knock us all off course.
As Thanksgiving approaches we find ourselves longing for the days before the Pandemic. We would love a return to the ordinary with regular routines, uneventful and predictable days. I’m pretty sure you will agree that ordinary sounds delightful after the crazy months we’ve been wading through in 2020. Many have lost jobs and businesses, and now endure the hardships that come as a result of those losses. But far worse is the horrible sickness and death that has come to so many families around the world. There has been and continues to be much confusion, pain, suffering, uncertainty, and fear everywhere due to the Pandemic and other events related to the Pandemic.
Certainly, this is a time of terrible grief for those who have lost loved ones.
There is also a collective deep sorrow felt by many of us because we are aware of the loss everywhere around the world.
Lament is a normal and healthy reaction to the times we are living in right now. Lament is the expressing of sorrow, mourning, and/or regret.
Can thanksgiving and lament go together? Yes.
Remember that even while Philippians has the wonderful theme of joy it is also about sorrow and suffering. In all times and seasons, we should be thankful to God because thankfulness is not dependent upon our circumstances. We can give thanks and praises to God at the same time that we are experiencing sorrow. Indeed, we may become more keenly aware of what truly matters and therefore become more thankful in times of sorrow.
You may be familiar with the wonderful verse that says God’s mercies are new every morning. It’s one of my favorites! Take notice that the verse is from Lamentations. Yes, reason for hope is found even during times of great sorrow. The prophet Jeremiah is speaking in this portion of scripture.
The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.
I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
-Lamentations 3:19-26
Jeremiah shows us a way to live above any circumstances. He gives us an example of a life satisfied in the Lord while also living with great sorrow at the same time. Jeremiah is referred to as the weeping prophet.
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
Where is your hope?
Who is your hope?
The key to satisfaction is finding your portion in the Lord.
Do a word study to understand better what it means to find your portion in the Lord – Blue Letter Bible
Our verses for Thanksgiving Day are below. These verses are considered Paul’s formula for a full satisfying life.
I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Next Blog post will have the December/Advent Reading – Writing Plan
Thanksgiving Color Page
- Download and print this coloring page
- Print as many copies as you want
- Use the center area to write out a prayer
- Or write out special Bible verses
- Pray while coloring
Click Here
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Every Day with the King 