Devotion: Giving of thanks

This is the week of Thanksgiving. So I want to offer some thoughts that come to mind as we approach the Thanksgiving day.

In the New Testament, Ephesians the 5th chapter, the Apostle Paul gives us this directive: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The giving of thanks is part and parcel with our relationship with God and thanking God for everything is fitting even when there are some unhappy things in our lives

It was demonstrated for us by Daniel. Daniel Chapter 6 tells the story of Daniel in Babylon, in the service of a pagan king. Incited by Daniel’s enemies, the king decreed that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, (except to him the king) shall be cast into the den of lions.

Daniel had a choice to make and he chose to face the lions over not praying.

Daniel 6:10: “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

The only specific thing we are told is that he “.gave thanks.” What did Daniel have that he appreciated enough to thank God for, at great risk?

Daniel was in captivity in a foreign country, his homeland was vanquished, the kingdom toppled, its capital city of Jerusalem lying in ruins (just like Jeremiah had prophesied.) And yet Daniel thanked God for what He had done, for what He was doing and for what He was yet to do

We might not understand the why of whatever is going on but like Daniel, we must have faith and trust that God’s plan is for the good of those who love the Lord and are call according to His purpose.