3 Minute Church: Every Day is Thanksgiving
This blog unpacks Pastor Caleb Culver’s Sermon from November 24, 2024
“Gratitude is an attitude, but thanksgiving is an action.”
Pastor Caleb Culver
Far more than just a holiday or a polite gesture, thanksgiving is a spiritual discipline that can revolutionize our relationship with God.
LET’S BREAK IT DOWN:
There's a simple practice that has the power to transform our hearts, perspectives, and circumstances: thanksgiving. The act of giving thanks isn’t just about expressing gratitude for the good things in life. We live in a world that allows us to experience every facet of the human condition—both good and bad. When we practice thanksgiving from an eternal perspective, we give acknowledge God as the source of everything.
God gives us what we need, and we lack nothing. When God is the provider of all things, we have the opportunity, as stewards of His blessings, to cultivate them for His good. This mindset changes how we approach both abundance and lack in our lives.
When we give thanks in times of abundance, we protect our hearts from pride, fear, greed, and covetousness. It's easy to forget the source of our blessings when life is going well. We might start to believe that our success is solely due to our efforts when we are simply stewards of what He has given us.
Thanksgiving acts as a spiritual sanitizer, cleansing our hearts from the potential adverse effects of God's blessings. Just as we can't sanitize our hands with a closed fist, thanksgiving requires us to open our hands and hearts to God, acknowledging Him as the giver of all good things.
But what about when life is difficult?
Can we still give thanks when facing lack, pain, or injustice? he answer is still yes—yes today, yes tomorrow, and yes forever. It's in these moments that thanksgiving becomes most powerful.
THIS IS WHY WE GIVE THANKS:
God Likes Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving draws us closer to God. It requires a humble acknowledgment that we are not self-sufficient and that all we have is from God. It aligns us with the nature of His character, reflecting His generous love and the ultimate sacrifice of His son, Jesus.
Thanksgiving Opens Our Eyes to See God's Love and Purpose in Everything.
Thanksgiving requires us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and recognize the bigger picture: He works everything for our good. Every experience, whether hurtful, joyful, or somewhere in between, is a part of His overarching plan.
Thanksgiving Gives Us the Strength to Surrender to God Amidst Suffering.
Thanksgiving teaches us to give thanks in the midst of difficult situations and trust that God is still good. Consider the night Jesus was betrayed. Knowing the suffering that lay ahead, He took bread and gave thanks. In that moment of impending darkness, Jesus demonstrated the power of thanksgiving, even when He knew He would face the ultimate sacrifice and pain.
Thanksgiving Reminds Us that God is the Source of Everything.
Thanksgiving reminds us that everything we have—our possessions, talents, and even our breath—comes from God. Approaching our daily lives with this perspective humbles us. We should seek to honor God with what He has entrusted us with.
Thanksgiving Gives Us Grace to Trust God.
Thanksgiving reaffirms God's faithfulness—yesterday, today, and tomorrow. When we look at how He has provided for us throughout our lives, we have the grace to trust that He will continue to provide in the future. Even when our circumstances look bleak, we can still acknowledge that He is sovereign and sufficient.
Thanksgiving Releases Peace that Drives Out Anxiety.
Thanksgiving helps transition our thoughts from a place of anxiety to a place of peace. When we redirect our worries to a place of gratitude instead, we cast out fear through His perfect love. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us not to be anxious, yet pray about everything.
Thanksgiving is the Pathway to Great Faith.
Thanksgiving builds confidence in God's reliability and character. When we give thanks, especially in difficult situations, it grows and strengthens our faith. We practice our faith in action by focusing on His goodness and expressing gratitude. Trusting in God's steadfastness allows our relationship to grow more fully and deeply.
Thanksgiving Activates Joy, Awakens Hope, and Builds Strength.
Thanksgiving involves appreciating the good things in life, which naturally fosters a sense of joy. It shifts our focus to an eternal perspective, which produces hope that God will continue to provide. Lastly, the discipline of gratitude strengthens the spirit, allowing us to endure trials with joy in the Lord.
Thanksgiving Sanctifies Everything in Our Lives.
Thanksgiving purifies and sets apart our experiences in life for God's purposes. It purges negative attitudes such as entitlement, pride, and self-satisfaction and replaces them with a humble outlook that honors God. True thanksgiving aligns our hearts and minds with God's will.
Thanksgiving Positions Us in Humility.
Thanksgiving moves our focus away from ourselves and towards God's generous acts. This reaffirms that our successes and blessings are not the result of our actions; we are caretakers of the blessings we have received from God, not owners.
AS WE CULTIVATE THE HABIT OF THANKSGIVING…
we may find that what starts as a discipline becomes a delight. Our hearts become more attuned to God's presence and goodness in every aspect of our lives. We begin to see blessings where we once saw only curses and opportunities where we saw only obstacles.
The challenge, then, is to make every day a day of Thanksgiving—not just when life is good but especially when life is hard.
Not just for the things we naturally appreciate but also for the things that stretch our faith and challenge our understanding.
When we become a people who practice thanksgiving daily, our complaints turn to praise, our anxiety to peace, and our ashes to beauty.
Tap to watch Pastor Caleb Culver's full sermon on Youtube.
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on this sermon:
Day 1: The Power of Thanksgiving
Reading: Psalm 100:1-5
Devotional: As we begin this journey, let's focus on the transformative power of thanksgiving. Psalm 100 invites us to enter God's presence with gratitude. Reflect on how thanksgiving can change your perspective, even in challenging circumstances. How might regularly practicing gratitude open your eyes to see God's love and purpose in everything? Today, make a list of five things you're thankful for, including one area of your life where you've struggled to find gratitude. Ask God to help you see His goodness even in difficult situations.
Day 2: Approaching God with Thanksgiving
Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16
Devotional: Today's passage reminds us that we can approach God's throne with confidence. Just as the Israelites entered God's courts through the gate of thanksgiving, we too can come before God through Christ. How does viewing thanksgiving as the "gate" to God's presence change your approach to prayer? Consider a challenge you're facing right now. Before asking for anything, spend time thanking God for who He is and what He's already done in your life. Notice how this shifts your heart and mind as you pray.
Day 3: Thanksgiving in Abundance
Reading: Deuteronomy 8:10-18
Devotional: It's easy to forget God when life is going well. Today's reading warns against this tendency. Reflect on times when you've received blessings and inadvertently taken credit for them instead of thanking God. How can thanksgiving protect us from pride and self-reliance? Challenge yourself to thank God for three things you often take for granted. Ask Him to cultivate a heart of continual gratitude, especially in times of abundance.
Day 4: Thanksgiving in Lack
Reading: Philippians 4:11-13
Devotional: Paul's words remind us that contentment and thanksgiving are possible even in times of need. Reflect on a current situation where you feel lack or limitation. How might giving thanks in this circumstance change your perspective? Remember Jesus giving thanks for the five loaves and two fish. Today, try thanking God for something that seems insufficient, trusting that He can multiply it for His glory and your good.
Day 5: Thanksgiving as a Weapon
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Devotional: Paul's "thorn in the flesh" teaches us that our weaknesses can become opportunities for God's strength to shine. How can thanksgiving in difficult circumstances become a powerful weapon against discouragement and despair? Think about a persistent struggle in your life. Instead of focusing on the problem, thank God for three ways He's shown His grace through this challenge. Ask Him to help you see how He's working for your good, even in your difficulties.