Thanksgiving

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

Read: Psalms 100
Listen: Psalms 100

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Today is Thanksgiving Day. Once every year, many of us come together with friends, family and others to give thanks together. On this fourth Thursday of November, millions of Americans will sit down at tables filled with favorite foods like turkey, potatoes, stuffing and pies of various sorts. Before they begin their feast, many will pause to give thanks to God.

The words will come easily for some of us. It has been a good year filled with new arrivals, fantastic opportunities and glorious horizons as we look to the future. For many others, however, the words—while true—will be a bit more hesitant. The chair at the head of the table is empty. Family tensions mean some are refusing to come. Prospects for the future are bleak.

But in both good and challenging times, the words of Psalm 100 give voice to our thanksgiving. They remind us that our Lord is, indeed, the Creator God (verse 3). He is the One who protects us (verse 3), is good in all he does (verse 4) and provides us with his enduring love (verse 5). Finally, the psalmist reminds us (verse 5) that his faithfulness continues from one generation to the next (a great encouragement if you’re gathered with the generations in your family). Today is the day to “enter his gates with thanksgiving.”