Dear CPC Flock,

Thanksgiving is an essential mark of a Christian. 1 Chronicles 16:34 David calls us to (1 Chronicles 16:34) “give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” The Psalmist exhorts us (Ps. 95:1-3), “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!For the Lord is a great God …” Paul exhorts us to (1 Thess. 5:18) “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Of all people, we as Christians have numerous reasons for gratitude. Our God is the giver of “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17). In fact, he loves to give good gifts to his children (Mat. 7:11). The extent of his benevolence is proven in Christ. The Father gave his only begotten Son for sinners (John 3:16). Truly, gratitude is the right response to God’s grace (2 Cor. 4:15). As you go about the rest of your Thanksgiving week, make the following prayer yours.  

Creator, Upholder, and Proprietor of All Things … We cannot escape from thy presence and control, nor do we desire to do so. Our privilege is to be under the agency of thy omnipotence, righteousness, wisdom, patience, mercy and grace; For thou art Love with more than parental affection.

We admire thy goodness, stand in awe of thy power, abase ourselves before thy purity. It is the discovery of thy goodness alone that can banish our fear, allure us into thy presence, [and] help us to bewail and confess our sins. We review our past guilt and are conscious of present unworthiness. 

We bless thee that thy steadfast love and attributes are essential to our happiness and hope; Thou hast witnessed to us thy grace and mercy in the bounties of nature, in the fullness of thy providence, in the revelations of Scripture, in the gift of thy Son, in the proclamation of the gospel.

Make us willing to be saved in thy own way, perceiving nothing in ourselves but all in Jesus. Help us not only to receive him but to walk in him, depend upon him, commune with him, follow him as dear children, imperfect, but still pressing forward, not complaining of labour, but valuing rest, not murmuring under trials, but thankful for our state. And by so doing let us silence the ignorance of foolish men. (Taken from The Valley of Vision, 224-225)

Give thanks to God and all that he has done to redeem you in the Gospel. And may gratitude pour forth through a life lived for Christ.

—Pastor Clif