With the Thanksgiving holiday now behind us, let me take this opportunity to look at this special day of Thanksgiving as a reminder of what we really need to be thankful for, and to whom we should be thankful to.

What I find interesting is that Thanksgiving is the only national holiday that doesn’t commemorate someone’s birthday, an anniversary, or battle. It’s distinctive in that it’s a day set apart for America to express thankfulness to God.

This is what President George Washington declared on October 3, 1789, when he issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation.

“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor–and … to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Therefore, Thanksgiving was a day for us to always remember to be thankful for the many blessings and benefits that the Lord has given to us, not just as a nation, but as individuals who through the grace He has extended have entered into His wonderful covenant of grace that has given salvation and eternal life in heaven to all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, not only has this day of Thanksgiving, but also we the people have forgotten what we truly need to be thankful for. Most people say thanks only if they’re healthy, have money in the bank, surrounded by loving family and friends, and if there’s food on the table.

But all thankfulness should begin and end with God, the giver of these gifts. But more than anything else, we should be thankful as believers in Jesus Christ that we are His, that He reigns in our hearts and in our lives, and that His kingdom is one of grace and mercy and has no end.

I think this was at the heart of the Psalmist’s Thanksgiving song.

“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (Psalm 100)

So, allow God to truly be your Thanksgiving Treasure, and be thankful to Him the wonderful gifts we receive, including the most wonderful gift of them all, His Son, Jesus Christ, and for His birth that we are about to celebrate this Christmas.

Dennis Lee is the Senior Pastor of Living Waters Fellowship located at 211 West First South behind ACE Hardware.

This Sunday, at 10 a.m., pastor Dennis be looking at what’s next after Thanksgiving is over. The message is entitled, “Thanksgiving Grace.”  It will look at the fact that Thanksgiving is more than a holiday where we look back at all of God’s many blessings; rather it is the beginning where we look forward to the grace that is ours for the journey that lies ahead.

You can also Watch on our YouTube channel “Mesquite NV Living Waters Fellowship”