As you know “Thanksgiving” is a national holiday, but the theme of thanksgiving is a basic expression of God’s people. And when it flows from faith, it is also a virtue of the Holy Spirit which powerfully counters worry, bitterness, complaining, pessimism, discouragement and all sorts of attacks from our flesh and the evil one. Put simply: that which is against God does not want us to contemplate God’s gifts which would otherwise fill us with thanksgiving! Our adversary knows that when thanksgiving fills us light overcomes darkness! To give thanks is to remember the myriad reasons we have to be joyful…to be thankful!

1) Even if I struggle with sin, I give thanks that my sins are forgiven in Christ.

2) Even if I struggle with physical resources, I give thanks that the Eternal Kingdom is mine in Christ.

3) Even if I struggle in earthly relationships, I give thanks for the peace of God that is mine in Christ.

4) Even if I struggle in my body and with my physical health, I give thanks for the assurance that the new heaven and the new earth will include my restored body.

5) Even if I feel anxiety and stress, I give thanks that I have God’s invitation and welcome to call on His Name and to know that He hears me and answers me in accord with His perfect will.

6) Even if I feel discouraged, I give thanks that I can open my lips to praise the Name of the Lord; that I can fill the airwaves around me with thanksgiving to my God for loving me so much that Jesus lived, died, and rose for me.

7) Even if I feel isolated and depressed, I give thanks that I am welcomed into the family of believers and that to worship the Lord is God’s invitation for me to be lifted up by the power of His Word and Sacrament.

8) Even if I struggle with energy and motivation, I give thanks that the Lord never lacks energy and motivation to serve me with His Word and Sacrament, and He never tires of loving me and granting me mercy.

9) Even if I am confused and confounded, I give thanks for the clarity of the Gospel for me…God’s grace to me is clear to Him and this is the most important clarity: I belong to the Lord through Jesus!

10) Even if this season makes my head spin, I give thanks that I am safe in the arms of Christ who holds me and keeps me safe in His loving arms as He keeps me in my baptismal grace and feeds me through His body and blood.

11) I give thanks because in Christ I know who I am, I know where I am from, I know why I am here, and I know where I am going: I give thanks that I am a beloved child of God; that I am from God’s gracious, purposeful, and miraculous creation; that I am here to love Him and to love those He puts in my life; and I know that I am going to eternal glory to be with the Lord and with all who belong to Him…and I give thanks that this is not by might, not by power, not by my discipline, not by my holiness, not by anything in me, but by His grace, His love, and His mercy in the Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior.