Thursday, November 28, 2013

Giving Thanks to God as a Nation


If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you will know there is no love lost between myself and politicians. I don’t trust them. I don’t believe their motives are pure. I don’t think they have the best interest of our nation in mind. They care about themselves above the nation. I do pray for them. That’s just how I feel, so when the question of giving thanks to God as a nation is given as today’s 40 Days of Blogging topic, it causes me to pause………..
Ok, that’s long enough. To be brutally honest, I don’t believe our nation understands the meaning of the word thanks. We use the word, but I don’t see the action in the society that correlates to gratitude, to anyone, let alone God. I also, by the way, don’t believe America has EVER been a Christian nation, but that’s for another blog.

I believe thanks is a concept that rests (literally) in contentment. If you are thankful for anything, then you understand that things can be much worse and someone has helped either hold you up or lift you up to a higher level than you were before. But if you are constantly not satisfied with where you are or what you have, are you really thankful? Or is it more of an acknowledgement that someone has helped you achieve something? And is your “thanks” really just a calculated act to secure future benefits?

In fact, many treat their relationship with God in that way. “If I don’t say thanks to God, then He won’t bless me with more of what I say I want.” My evidence for this theory is the popular phrase, “God answered my prayers!” But this NEVER means He didn’t give me what I ask for. I’ve NEVER heard, “Praise God! I didn’t get that job promotion and raise!”

That being said, what about Thanksgiving Day? Watch the parking lots tonight and tomorrow and you will see just how many are truly thankful or just wanting more. The evening news will likely report riots and violence over that “perfect toy” or other sale item. Is the action of a nation filled with thanks for the blessings from God? Or is a nation that just wants to “cover its bases” and acknowledge the loot will only keep coming if “someone” is given credit? Time will tell….

This post is written for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers Institute. You may find other blogs participating in this challenge. I hope you enjoy this year’s Advent journey.

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