Transforming Thanksgiving: From Holiday to Holy Day
Summary
In this season of Thanksgiving, it's essential to recognize the profound grace and mercy of God in our lives. The very fact that we are here today, with the ability to gather, worship, and celebrate, is a testament to God's goodness. Many of us have the privilege of contemplating what to cook for Thanksgiving, a luxury not afforded to everyone. This season is a reminder to be deeply thankful, not just for what we have, but also for what we don't have, acknowledging that tomorrow is not promised. Some are facing their first Thanksgiving without a loved one, while others are contemplating medical treatments post-holiday. In these moments, we must bring our A-game to worship, celebrating God's greatness and wisdom.
Thanksgiving is not just a holiday but a holy day, a time to express gratitude for what God has already done. Our thankfulness should not be contingent on our current circumstances but on who God is and His past deeds. God owes us nothing, yet He gives us everything out of His benevolence and mercy. Our theology of Thanksgiving should be rooted in the understanding that God is not obligated to us, but we are blessed by His grace.
Anxiety often interferes with our ability to be thankful. It is a spiritual issue, reflecting a lack of trust in God's sovereignty and provision. The antidote to anxiety is thankful prayer, which reassures, restores, redirects, reminds, and reinforces us. By focusing on God's promises and faithfulness, we can transform our worries into worship. Thanksgiving trains our minds to dwell on God's truth, shifting our focus from negativity to hope. As we approach this season, let's turn Thanksgiving from a mere holiday into a holy day, filled with genuine gratitude and praise for God's unending grace.
Key Takeaways:
1. Gratitude Beyond Circumstances: Thanksgiving should not be based on our current situations but on the character and past deeds of God. Even when life is challenging, we can find reasons to be thankful because of who God is and what He has already done for us. [19:34]
2. The Spiritual Nature of Anxiety: Anxiety is not just an emotional or medical issue; it is a spiritual misalignment that reflects a lack of trust in God's sovereignty. By replacing worry with reliance on God, we can find peace and assurance in His presence. [01:13:58]
3. The Power of Thankful Prayer: Thankful prayer is transformative, serving as a therapeutic solution for anxiety. It involves aligning our hearts with God through prayer, supplication, and specific requests, all rooted in gratitude. [01:15:23]
4. Reframing Our Focus: Thanksgiving helps us shift our focus from life's challenges to God's blessings. By meditating on God's word and focusing on His truth, we can train our minds to dwell on positivity and hope. [01:36:21]
5. Turning Holidays into Holy Days: Thanksgiving is an opportunity to transform a secular holiday into a sacred time of worship and gratitude. By intentionally expressing thanks, we can bring light into our dark situations and experience spiritual renewal. [01:32:15]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [18:17] - Evidence of God's Grace
- [19:34] - Thanksgiving in Difficult Times
- [21:01] - Bringing Your A-Game to Worship
- [22:22] - A Testimony of God's Grace
- [22:52] - The Thank You Card Exercise
- [23:46] - Listing Your Blessings
- [25:27] - Remembering the Reason for the Season
- [26:05] - Sharing Reasons for Thankfulness
- [27:19] - Prayer of Gratitude
- [28:13] - Acknowledging God's Mercy
- [30:02] - Prayers for Those in Need
- [31:28] - Being Fully Available to God
- [47:45] - God is More Than Able
- [53:15] - The Theology of Thanksgiving
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Thanksgiving as a Holy Day
Bible Reading:
- Philippians 4:4-7
- Matthew 6:25-34
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Philippians 4:4-7, what is the relationship between prayer, thanksgiving, and peace?
2. How does the sermon describe the evidence of God's grace and mercy in our daily lives? [18:17]
3. What are some examples given in the sermon of how anxiety can manifest in our lives? [01:23:02]
4. How does the sermon suggest we should approach Thanksgiving differently from a typical holiday? [26:43]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In Philippians 4:6, Paul instructs believers not to be anxious about anything. How does the sermon interpret this command in the context of our daily struggles? [01:05:04]
2. The sermon mentions that anxiety is a spiritual misalignment. How does this perspective change the way we might address anxiety in our lives? [01:13:58]
3. How does the concept of "thankful prayer" serve as a therapeutic solution for anxiety according to the sermon? [01:15:23]
4. The sermon emphasizes gratitude beyond circumstances. How does this align with the biblical teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 about not worrying? [19:34]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt anxious. How might you apply the practice of thankful prayer to that situation? [01:15:23]
2. The sermon suggests making a list of things you are thankful for. What are three specific things you can thank God for today, even if your circumstances are challenging? [23:46]
3. How can you intentionally transform Thanksgiving from a secular holiday into a holy day of worship and gratitude in your family or community? [26:43]
4. Consider a time when you allowed anxiety to overshadow your gratitude. What steps can you take to refocus on God's promises and faithfulness? [01:28:36]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of bringing your A-game to worship. What does this look like for you personally, and how can you prepare your heart for worship this Thanksgiving season? [21:01]
6. How can you use the principles from Philippians 4:4-7 to support someone in your life who is struggling with anxiety or worry?
7. The sermon encourages us to be thankful for what we don't have. How can this perspective shift your view on unmet desires or unanswered prayers? [19:34]
Devotional
Day 1: Gratitude Anchored in God's Character
In the midst of life's challenges, gratitude should not be dependent on our circumstances but rooted in the unchanging character and past deeds of God. This perspective allows us to find reasons to be thankful even when life is difficult. By focusing on who God is and what He has already done, we can cultivate a heart of gratitude that transcends our current situations. This approach to Thanksgiving encourages us to reflect on God's faithfulness and goodness, reminding us that our gratitude is a response to His grace, not our temporary conditions. [19:34]
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you shift your focus from the difficulty to God's unchanging character and past faithfulness?
Day 2: Anxiety as a Spiritual Misalignment
Anxiety is often seen as an emotional or medical issue, but it also has a spiritual dimension. It reflects a lack of trust in God's sovereignty and provision. By recognizing anxiety as a spiritual misalignment, we can begin to address it through a deeper reliance on God. This involves acknowledging our worries and intentionally choosing to trust in God's control over our lives. By doing so, we can find peace and assurance in His presence, knowing that He is more than capable of handling our concerns. [01:13:58]
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a specific worry that has been weighing on your heart. How can you actively choose to trust God with this concern today?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of Thankful Prayer
Thankful prayer is a powerful tool that can transform our anxiety into peace. By aligning our hearts with God through prayer, supplication, and specific requests rooted in gratitude, we can experience a profound shift in our perspective. This practice not only reassures us of God's presence but also restores our focus on His promises and faithfulness. Thankful prayer serves as a therapeutic solution for anxiety, helping us to redirect our thoughts from worry to worship. [01:15:23]
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: Spend a few moments in prayer today, focusing on gratitude. What specific things can you thank God for, even in the midst of your current challenges?
Day 4: Shifting Focus from Challenges to Blessings
Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to shift our focus from life's challenges to God's blessings. By meditating on God's word and focusing on His truth, we can train our minds to dwell on positivity and hope. This reframing of our perspective allows us to see beyond our immediate difficulties and recognize the abundance of blessings in our lives. By intentionally choosing to focus on God's goodness, we can cultivate a heart of gratitude that transforms our outlook on life. [01:36:21]
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, ESV)
Reflection: Take a moment to list three blessings in your life that you may have overlooked. How can you make a habit of focusing on these blessings daily?
Day 5: Transforming Holidays into Holy Days
Thanksgiving is an opportunity to transform a secular holiday into a sacred time of worship and gratitude. By intentionally expressing thanks, we can bring light into our dark situations and experience spiritual renewal. This transformation involves viewing Thanksgiving not just as a day of feasting but as a holy day dedicated to celebrating God's unending grace. By doing so, we can deepen our spiritual connection and find renewed strength in God's presence. [01:32:15]
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!" (Psalm 100:4, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate worship and gratitude into your Thanksgiving celebration this year, turning it into a holy day?
Quotes
The fact that you're right here right now is evidence that God has been good to you, amen? How many of y 'all drove up here this morning? That's evidence of God's grace and God's mercy. How many of y 'all got out of bed this morning? That's evidence of God's grace and God's mercy. You passed by people who slept on grass last night, who slept on concrete last night, who slept in a basket last night. But y 'all had a bed to sleep in. And that's the goodness of God, the grace of God, the mercy of God, amen? [00:17:42] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
So as we come to them, we get a chance to worship God and praise God. I want you all to be extremely thankful, amen, because tomorrow is not promised. And there's some people here who they are celebrating Thanksgiving for the first time without that husband, without that wife, without that child, without that parent. [00:19:14] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
How many of y 'all, when you come to church, it's not just a passive activity, but, God, I came to worship you. And, God, I came to celebrate you, God. And I came to let people know, God, that you are great, God, and you are wonderful, God, and you are wise, God, and you are omniscient, God, Lord. And, God, you've been better to me than I can be to myself. [00:20:41] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Thank you, Lord, that I got a heaven to look forward to, God. And, Lord, this ain't the best. The best is still yet to come. And this ain't the best. The best is still yet to come. Thank you, Lord, for loving me in spite of me. So, just make a list of things that you are thankful for real quick, because this is a Thanksgiving season. Amen? [00:24:54] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Thanksgiving should not be predicated upon your current circumstances. Thanksgiving should be predicated upon who God is and what God has already done. If God doesn't do anything else for you for the rest of your life, he's done enough already. God doesn't owe us anything. God does not have an IOU with us. [00:55:53] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Anxiety is not just merely a medical condition. Anxiety is not just merely an emotional situation. Anxiety at its core is a spiritual issue. Anxiety is a reflection of a lack of trust in God's sovereignty and God's provision. [01:14:44] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
He says here, the antidote to anxiety is thankful prayer. Thankful prayer. That's it. You ain't got nothing more profound than that, Dr. Nope. I'm trained well enough to trust God and to say what God says and keep my mouth shut on what God does not say. [01:15:23] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Number three benefit of thankful prayer is that it redirects you. It says, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, present your request to God. Prayer and supplication. I'm going to pray a generic prayer. Then I'm going to start identifying these emotional areas where I need God to show up. It redirects my focus. It brings my problems to God's promises and God's faithfulness. [01:27:43] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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