Chapter 16 - Thanksgiving
Can't Remove Jesus
Thanksgiving, or the process of giving thanks, is mentioned many times in the Bible. This holiday is often seen as the kickoff to The Holiday Season, encompassing Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. This time of year is all about giving and receiving… from food, to conversation, to gifts – overindulgence is not just considered acceptable; it’s expected.
Prayer and thanksgiving can bring about numerous positive changes by fostering a sense of gratitude and encouraging recognition of blessings received. When combined with prayer, thanksgiving can induce a peace that surpasses understanding, protecting hearts and minds while aligning desires and prayers with God's purpose and plan. Additionally, they can establish a spiritual environment that is more resistant to negative influences.
How did you celebrate Thanksgiving as a child? Was it just me, or was this a magical time of year?
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Is this a big social time for you? Do you travel? Do people come to visit you?
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Did your family give thanks in a special way - Speaking going around the table or filling out an "I’m Thankful for..." cardboard turkey tail to put in the Styrofoam turkey?
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Do you still look forward to the holiday, or has it just become a day of all work and no rest for you?
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Google AI Overview states:
In the Bible, thanksgiving is more than just saying "thank you"; it's a spiritual attitude of gratitude and worship, recognizing God's goodness and provision in all circumstances. It involves praising God, acknowledging Him as the source of all good things, and offering sacrifices and prayers in response to His blessings. It's a way to connect with God, express faith, and align oneself with His will.
Key Aspects of Biblical Thanksgiving:
Recognizing God's Goodness: Biblical thanksgiving emphasizes acknowledging God's character, His steadfast love, and His provision in our lives.
Worship and Praise: It's a form of worship, a way to offer praise and honor to God for His blessings.
Sacrifice and Offering: In the Old Testament, thanksgiving was often expressed through sacrifices and offerings.
Prayer and Supplication: The New Testament encourages believers to approach God with prayer and supplication, accompanied by thanksgiving, as seen in Philippians 4:6.
Attitude of Gratitude: Thanksgiving is not just a one-time event but an ongoing attitude of the heart, trusting in God's plan even in difficult times.
Impact on Life: Developing a thankful spirit is seen as a way to experience God's power, overcome challenges, and fulfill our purpose.
Can prayer and Thanksgiving truly have a significant impact on your mental and physical well-being? Can maintaining a positive attitude attract others socially, and what kind of influence can it have on your relationship with God? The answer to these questions can change your life… eternally!
What do you think?
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Let’s start with the most important first. How does prayer and thanksgiving affect your relationship with God?...
I was shocked at how much Google AI Overview had to say on this matter.
Google AI Overview states:
Prayer and thanksgiving cultivate a stronger, more intimate relationship with God by fostering gratitude, shifting focus from problems to blessings, and inviting God's presence. They can lead to increased peace, joy, and a deeper understanding of God's love and faithfulness.
Here's a list of specific benefits:
- Deepens your relationship with God:
Prayer and thanksgiving are fundamental ways to communicate with God and build intimacy.
- Cultivates gratitude:
By focusing on what you're thankful for, you shift your perspective from lack to abundance, recognizing God's provision and love.
- Changes your perspective:
Expressing gratitude can help you see challenges in a new light, reminding you of God's sovereignty and faithfulness.
- Invites God's presence:
When you pray with a grateful heart, you create an atmosphere where God's presence can be more fully experienced.
- Increases peace and joy:
Gratitude and prayer can lead to a greater sense of peace, even in difficult circumstances.
- Strengthens faith:
Remembering God's faithfulness in the past through thanksgiving reinforces your trust in His provision for the future.
- Reduces negative emotions:
Focusing on gratitude can help combat negative feelings like anxiety, discouragement, and fear.
- Fosters humility:
Recognizing your dependence on God through prayer and thanksgiving promotes humility and a desire to live in accordance with His will.
- Opens opportunities for guidance:
Prayer is a way to seek God's guidance and direction in all aspects of your life.
- Allows for deeper worship:
Thanksgiving and praise can be a form of worship, expressing adoration and reverence for God.
Now let's examine the potential for prayer and thanksgiving to impact your mental health. Do you think this is possible? What examples can you give in your own life?
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How about the potential for prayer and thanksgiving to impact your physical health? Do you think this is possible? What examples can you give in your own life?
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Thanksgiving Verses
Psalm 150:6 – “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
1 Chronicles 16:34 – “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalm 100:4 – “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Psalm 136:26 – “Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
For His mercy endures forever.”
Revelation 11:16-17: “And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was [a]and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned’.”
Google AI Overview states:
How prayer and thanksgiving can benefit mental and physical health.
Mental health benefits
Reduces stress and anxiety: Prayer and gratitude help shift focus away from negative thoughts and worries towards more positive and hopeful perspectives, activating areas of the brain associated with peace and calm.
Boosts mood and increases happiness: Regularly focusing on positive emotions through prayer and thankfulness triggers the release of feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin in the brain, improving overall mood and increasing happiness levels.
Enhances emotional regulation and resilience: Prayer and gratitude can strengthen neural pathways associated with positive thinking and help individuals cope with difficult emotions and bounce back from adversity, according to Oaks Integrated Care.
Fosters a sense of purpose and connection: Engaging in prayer and expressing gratitude can deepen spiritual connection and a sense of purpose, helping individuals navigate challenging times and feel less alone.
Improves self-esteem and outlook: Cultivating feelings of gratitude and appreciating the good in life can lead to improved self-esteem and a more positive outlook, reducing feelings of inadequacy and increasing optimism.
Physical health benefits
Lowers blood pressure and improves heart health: Studies suggest a link between gratitude and lower blood pressure, potentially due to reduced stress levels and the release of oxytocin, a hormone that expands blood vessels. Gratitude also correlates with positive biomarkers associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
Boosts immune function: Positive emotions associated with gratitude have been linked to an improved immune system response, helping the body fight off illness and infection.
Reduces inflammation: Gratitude can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn can reduce inflammation in the body and potentially mitigate the risk of chronic illnesses.
Promotes better sleep: Individuals who practice gratitude often experience better sleep quality, possibly due to reduced stress and anxiety, and increased positive thoughts before bedtime.
Motivates healthier lifestyle choices: Research indicates that grateful people tend to be more health-conscious, exercising more often, eating a balanced diet, and being less likely to engage in unhealthy habits like excessive alcohol or drug use.
Increases pain tolerance: Studies show a potential link between gratitude and increased pain tolerance, suggesting that focusing on positive emotions can help shift the perception of pain.