The Weekly Word - A Devotion for the Week of November 21
More than 200 years ago, President George Washington issued a proclamation naming Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a day of public thanksgiving. However, it wasn’t until 74 years later, in 1863, that President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving an official holiday to be commemorated each year on the last Thursday of November.
Today most Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with a roasted turkey and all the trimmings. We gather with our family and friends around a table laden with sweet and savory dishes and give thanks for our many blessings.
As Americans, we officially give thanks once a year, but for Christians, every day is Thanksgiving. We give thanks to God not once or twice or even occasionally, but as often as possible, modeling our gratitude after Jesus’.
Before Jesus fed the loaves and fishes to 5,000 of His followers, He first gave thanks. Before Jesus ate His last supper with His disciples, He first gave thanks. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He first thanked God His Father for listening to His prayer.
Rather than taking His Father’s love and compassion for granted, Jesus remembered first and foremost to offer gratitude to God.
Today and every day, we follow in Jesus’ footsteps, thanking God not just for what He does for us, but for who He is: the God of enduring love.
Gracious God, thank You today and every day for Your love, grace and compassion. Thank You for all the ways you care for and strengthen me. Thank You for your forgiveness and your mercy. Thank You for who You are. Amen.