Lake Eufaula Christian Church
We’re called to show gratitude for God’s enduring love! This year’s Thanksgiving Day is now behind us, but the reminder it brought needs to be remembered each day. Our first president George Washington set the November date for “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer…that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country….”
Even though the pilgrims had seven times more graves than huts to live in, they recognized God’s will is for all to have gratitude. “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1Thessalonians 5:18). No matter what we’re going through in life, we’re called to give thanks.
Being thankful can be difficult when going through a season of loss, a season of grieving, a season of struggling— financially, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. At such times, we need to remember what God has done for us and be thankful for his enduring love.
We need to follow the example of Jesus, who gave thanks before he fed a huge crowd with five loaves and two fish. He also gave thanks before raising Lazarus from the dead, wanting all to know that His miracles on earth came from His father in heaven.
Forgetfulness is a challenge that God’s people have been battling with for thousands of years, but reading Psalm 136 will always help us remember to “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful loves endure forever.”
God is always good. He is never anything but good. We don’t have to catch Him at a good time; we don’t have to catch Him in a good mood. He is always good. We don’t know anyone else like Him. He is always good to us. We can know that He is always working good things in and for us — even in our worst times — and we should remember to give thanks for that.
Everything that we have, everything we’re thankful for, comes out of this: that God is good to us. So, first and foremost, Psalm 136 tells us why God’s people should thank Him… because He is good, and also because He is the only, one true, God! He is the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. That makes Him the only supreme being worthy of worship.
After the Psalm’s call to praise, we come to the second part which lists marvelous things God has done—each one followed by the 5-word sentence we need to absorb in our brains: “His faithful loves endures forever.”
Just as God directed the Israelites out of the wilderness, He directs us to the way that is best for us, providing everything we need. “He remembered us in our weakness. HIs faithful loves endure forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever. He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 136: 23-25).
We can remind ourselves to give thanks by turning some sensory prompts into cues. An alarm to awaken you, a sticky note on your dashboard, a landmark you pass as you drive to work—anything can be a cue to remind you to make giving thanks a custom.
Being part of a church community prioritizes praising God as we joyfully do at LECC. We have Sunday 10 a.m. small group Bible study, 11 a.m. worship, and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday classes for all ages. If you’re unchurched, and looking for a family full of gratitude, please join us and thank God for His enduring love.
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
