The Providence of Thanksgiving

I. Thanksgiving began with a Church, not a Country.

The Mayflower Compact:

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith, and the honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, covenant, and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony: unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names; Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord King James, of England, France and Ireland eighteenth and of Scotland fifty-fourth, Anno Domini 1620.

II. Thanksgiving was born out of Suffering, not Abundance.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

III. Thanksgiving was a display of God’s Providence.

Isaiah 65:24 – “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”

Genesis 50:20 – “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

IV. Thanksgiving is a call for families to come back to Unity.

Psalm 133:1, 3b – 1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! . . . 3for there the Lord commanded the blessing—Live forevermore.

V. Gratitude is our most powerful Spiritual Weapon against our Own Attitude.

• Gratitude shifts the atmosphere in the room.

Psalm 100:4 – Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.

• You cannot carry bitterness in your heart and walk into blessing at the same time.

VI. Thanksgiving reminds us of the Good Life we have been given.

Psalm 103:2 – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

VII. The Cross is the Foundation of all Thanksgiving.

2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!