I am on vacation this week so there will be no regular Thursday post. But I wanted to take the opportunity on this Thanksgiving Monday to share a special encouragement as we celebrate this day.

Thanksgiving is often a mixed bag. On a normal thanksgiving Monday, some of you have the responsibility of becoming world-class chefs and mapping out how to feed a large group of people 5-star food with one oven and a microwave. Some of you know that Thanksgiving means (or used to mean) getting together with those family members you only see once a year. Sometimes, once a year is enough! Some of you are reminded of those you have lost and there is a sadness that comes with this time of year. There are traditions we love and some we wish we could do away with. I want to suggest one more Thanksgiving tradition that you can take with you every day of the year. Thanksgiving is not just a meal, or a day for hunting, it is a form of spiritual warfare.

Instead, Thanksgiving

In the book of Ephesians, we find an equation for developing godly behaviour and putting off sinful behaviour. Ephesians 5:1-4,

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:1-4, ESV

We are called to be imitators of God, that means refraining from certain things. The ones listed in the verse above are just a sampling of the multitude of sins humans have invented (Romans 1:30). Godliness also means doing certain things. The substitute for sin, the Apostle Paul suggests is, thankfulness.

Thankfulness is a Weapon

Thankfulness is not just a lesson children need to learn, it is a weapon in the hand of God’s people to put to death the desires and habits that threaten our souls. 

Thankfulness means every dollar you have is a gift from God and the stress of having too much or too little is washed away by God’s peace. Thankfulness means your spouse, your kids, your job, and your house have been designed by God for you. Thankfulness means jealously and lust are banished. When we are thankful, the Instagram gloss on other people’s lives disappears and God’s immense blessing to you becomes clear and consuming, so much so, that it strengthens the muscles you need to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1).

This thanksgiving, don’t let your meal go by without thanking God for his immense goodness to you, even in the smallest detail. The more often you see that goodness, the less often you will long for something other than what God has given you.

You are loved. 

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 
– 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13