Thanksgiving 365 “Living Thankful in Every Season”Sample

Enter In

Imagine two stunning gates, engraved with design, handcrafted by holy hands. Pouring out of these double doors is overwhelming light, radiating with such brightness that human eyes fail to capture the fullness. Our eyes drip with awe and wonder as we stumble over thoughts, but ultimately only one desire arises, an all-encompassing longing to enter through the doors, into the presence of the One we love. 

Thanksgiving on the lips of the children of God is what moves us from admiring the beauty from outside the gates, to glorying in the presence of the Lord in the inner court. The glory of the Lord responds to praise and thanksgiving. Face-to-face encounters are for the thankful. Face-to-face friendship is for those with praise on their lips.

Complaining and murmuring lead only to a path of wandering, but thanksgiving leads us into places of deep wonder. Thanksgiving opens the gates for us to encounter the holiness of the Lord. “Lun” or “luwn” is the Hebrew word for “murmur” used when the Israelites complained after the Lord miraculously freed them from captivity. This same word also means to abide, lodge, or remain. Many of us “luwn” in “lun.” Often, we lodge ourselves in complaint. God is calling us to dislodge ourselves from carnal mindsets of complaint, and enter with thanksgiving into the depths of face-to-face friendship.

While the Israelites were complaining, Moses was experiencing the glory of the Lord face-to-face. Thanksgiving is the secret to face-to-face encounters with the Lord. Familiarity is the enemy of wonder and encounter. We must recognize Jesus as our greatest need! Our very breath, salvation, and daily sustenance are found in Him, and Him alone. Holy Spirit, we invite you to reveal to us areas in our lives where we may have grown familiar with Your presence, goodness, and provisions. We want to give You a wholehearted praise, for this is the praise You are worthy of.