Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I am not speaking simply about food preparation when I ask the question. Have you prepared to honor the Lord in your conversations and plans as you celebrate the holiday?
For many, Thanksgiving is a blessed time to gather, eat a lot of good food, and enjoy family and friendships. The holidays can stir many good memories, but they can also bring painful ones of times together marred by arguments and fighting. Conversations can be challenging when we gather with others of various convictions and opinions.
How can you prepare to exalt the Lord and his goodness, giving thanks to him for all his blessings in a way that promotes good relationships? Prayer and a list of good questions will help you to make the holidays more meaningful. I have provided links to two resources to help you prepare.
In the first, Donald Whitney gives us a fabulous list of questions in his Ten Questions to Ask at a Thanksgiving Gathering. These questions are designed to be used in both casual conversation or more formally around the table, whichever serves your family better.
Kathleen Neilson, in her article Five Aims for Holiday Family Gatherings, offers more specific ideas for preparing spiritually for the day. Her fifth tip for holiday gatherings is: make time to read the Bible out loud and pray out loud together. This will look different, depending on the convictions of the guests around your table. I have listed several Scripture passages below of a variety of lengths for you to consider if you desire to implement this suggestion.
For those who are missing loved ones and still in the midst of grief, our prayers are with you. If you would like to process these feelings with others, please consider our GriefShare Surviving the Holidays event.
As you prepare, and as you pray, I want you to know how thankful I am to be a part of our spiritual family with you. Redeeming Grace Church is made up of a group of imperfect people who by the grace of God are seeking to know, love and obey the Lord our God and encourage others to do the same!
On behalf of the elders, we are praying that you will enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving Day with your family and friends!
Your brother in Christ,
Kenneth Maresco
Possible Scriptures for Reading on Thanksgiving Day
Psalm 100:1-5 – His Steadfast Love Endures for Ever
Psalm 147:1-11 – He Heals the Brokenhearted – Sing to the Lord with Thanksgiving
Psalm 145:1-21 – Great is the Lord
Psalm 118:1-29 – His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
1 Chronicles 16:8-36 – David’s Song of Thanks