Thanksgiving Prayer

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 How refreshing it can be to spend time in prayer just reflecting on all of the blessing we have. One big thanks that I have is that I live in a place where we still continuously remember this holiday. Though often we forget why we gather I know that this one day is the day that truely sets us apart from the rest of the nations. Why you may ask? This holiday is an American tradition! Sure Canada celebrates it but it is something that began in the American colonies. When I was in Ukraine they asked about 2 days, July 4th and Thanksgiving. The 4th of July was asked about only because it was a holiday that we celibrated while I was there in Ukraine, but all the students sat in awe as I spoke about thanksgiving. What does it mean? We give thanks for what we have been blessed with, and we honor those around us that have helped make us who we are. We remember our leaders and praise God for being blessed with a country like ours were we are free seek, explore, and invest in our dreams. But the greatest thing that we should remember is God. We have blessings because God gave us the imagination, desire, hope, and drive to achieve. We were made the way we are, allowed to experience what we experience, because God wants us to be a blessing to those around us. He set His son to be our mediator, to stand in our place between mankind and God. We praise and thank Him because it is through Jesus that we can boldly seek God, ask for help, and through Him we receive our blessings. When we remain thankful those around us see a different type of life. A life that is not dedicated only toward selfishness but of blessing. These past few weeks have been stressful weeks for me personally. I have felt like I have been streched thin, and nearly ready to break. But as I pray today I realise that I have One that can meet me where I am and help me walk through the trials to safely reach the other side. It is through Jesus I have hope and strength. Through Him I ca fail and still have hope and acceptance. Today I am thankful for my friends, my family, my Church, and most of all my Lord and Savior Jesus. Without all these people and God, I would be a broken and bitter man. Thank God that I am not what I coul be but who I am in Christ, a ransomed sinner saved by Grace. Remember these things as we walk through this day sharing our feasts and enter into the advent season.