The Privileged Life: Thankfulness in Advent
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4 NKJV)
’Tis the season for the flurry of gift-buying!
Even before Thanksgiving, pre-Christmas sales and specials tempt us, especially on Black Friday. I get all wrapped up in the giving spirit, excited at the prospects of joy when loved ones open presents from me.
Can you imagine, then, how much God loves giving us His gifts?
Sometimes we receive material abundance from Him. Typically, though, we won’t find His richest blessings under our Christmas trees or tied up with bows. His most valuable gifts are offered to us by the power of His Holy Spirit.
If you look back at Pilgrims who came to America in the early 1600s, they celebrated their first “thanksgiving” with a feast of praise despite what they had endured. Many of these settlers lost loved ones and suffered from hunger, disease, and threats during the first year. Yet they were thankful for survival and the freedom to worship God in spirit and truth.
How often do we have the same spirit of thankfulness? How many times do we forget God’s generosity to us in the face of distress, anxiety, and fear?
Maybe you’re going through a lean season. Maybe you’re unemployed, enmeshed in a crisis, or dealing with illness. It’s hard to be thankful in tough situations. I think especially of the folks in our mountains who lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods in the recent hurricane floods.
Whatever your holiday mindset as we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas, whether it’s the stress of shopping or family conflicts, take a few minutes each day to focus your attention on one or more of God’s gifts to you.
Think about the fruits of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). He provides many others. How about hope, strength, refuge? Wisdom, rest, courage, forgiveness? His word? Think of specific treasures—even challenges—God has given you to bring you closer to Him.
As you read through your Bible this Advent, thank our Savior for each gift that comes to mind. For specific daily prompts, I’ve created some new tent cards with verses (PDF attached at the bottom of this post). You’re welcome to print them out, pray through them, and share them with others.
May you find greater peace, greater joy, and greater hope through thankfulness for the beautiful gifts God brings to you all year long. Blessings to you, my friend, as you join me in this season of thankful prayer!
Generous and loving God, thank You for blessings You have bestowed upon me this year—especially those I haven’t even observed. Jesus, make me thankful for every breath of life, for every chance to shout Your good news. Holy Spirit, fill me up with Your fruits, and grant me the opportunities and courage to share them with others. Help me to generously love others as You have loved and blessed me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom.
© Copyright 2024 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #Christmasshopping #blackfriday #Christmasgifts #bestgifts #fruitsoftheSpirit #Advent #Adventcalendar #thankful #thankfulness
