Your Daily Slice

 

A Thanksgiving Offering

 

 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES GIVE THANKS, for this is the desire of Elohim in Messiah יהושע for you.” (1The 5:16-18, emphasis mine)

 

Some years ago, Elohim was quietly dealing with me about a consistent, continual offering of ‘thanksgiving’, an attitude, a frame of mind, a lifestyle that reflected a heart filled with gratitude and thanks – if is from these meditations that the “Yom Berekha” (The Daily Blessing) book was born.  However, it is as we celebrate ‘Thanksgiving Day’ that I perceive our Elohim is challenging us all to remember, and give thanks, for all that we are, all that we have, and all that we will have, through our Creator, our Messiah, and soon coming King.

 

Traditionally, those of us living in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November, a day of thanks established early in the history of our country.  But the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob established the offering of thanksgiving and praise many centuries ago, bringing us many admonitions of thanking Him through a minstrel/king by the name of David.  When David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and placed it in a tabernacle there, he wrote an amazing psalm of ‘thanksgiving’ and praise to our Elohim and Creator, acknowledging Him for who He is (see 1Chr 16, Ps 105).  Much of the psalm is still used today by the Jewish people, and is part of what is known as the Hallel, or songs of praise.

 

“GIVE THANKS to יהוה, for He is good, For His kindness is everlasting!” (1Chr 16:34, emphasis mine)

 

It is easy to focus on everything that is wrong in our world, and yes, we live in an imperfect world.  However, I also know that we are called to be “salt and light” in this imperfect world (see Mat 5:13-14), and the one way that we can do this is by exhibiting a lifestyle of thanksgiving and gratitude.  We may not have the understanding of each and every situation that we find ourselves in, but if we discipline ourselves to rehearse the blessings we have received through the hands of our wonderful Father, we will find ourselves continually offering up to Him the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.  And a grateful heart is something the Father delights in …

 

 “Through Yeshua then, let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name.” (Heb 13:15 TLV)

 

“Let them THANK YAHWEH for His mercy, and His wonders to the sons of man. And let them sacrifice the SACRIFICES OF THANKSGIVING, and recount His works with rejoicing.” (Ps 107:21-22 HRB, emphasis mine)

  

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