Giving Thanks to the Author of Liberty!

From the 1621 harvest feast, shared by the Plymouth Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians, to the 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln, America has had much about which to praise and thank our great God.

On this Thanksgiving, we (especially Bible-believing Christians) have a myriad of reasons to turn our hearts and heads heavenward with gratitude.  Most notably, the November 8 elections are a great place to
start.  Almost three weeks removed, the media pundits are still struggling to explain exactly what happened.  For those of us who prayed so specifically and diligently, we have a more than plausible
explanation.  The God of heaven intervened in response to the prayers of His people.  Now, we much not allow our earnest supplications to diminish.  Rather, we must escalate our petitions, that God would grant
His wisdom to the incoming President and administration.  To “drop the ball” now would be an absolute travesty.

More than any reason for unmitigated gratitude is the fact that we have a great salvation available through the person of Jesus Christ.  For those of us who have experienced His redemptive grace, we can/should shout from the house tops our exuberant praise. Salvation ALONE is reason enough for unceasing thanksgiving.

Added to the free gift of salvation from sin and it’s effects, are the innumerable blessings bestowed on us daily–blessings that come directly from the hand of our loving God.  “When upon life’s billows you are
tempest tossed.  When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost.  Count your many blessings, name them one by one.  And, it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”  That song was a staple in the home in which I grew up.  Though we had very little of this world’s goods, we were incessantly reminded of the incredible goodness of the God we served. Since those days of youth, I have seen God compound His blessings in my life–health, a wonderful wife, three incredible children, countless friends, an international ministry, and rapidly growing opportunities across the nation and around the world.

So, pardon me if I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving for the great things God has done in my life.  Without doubt, He has done the same thing in yours.  So, as tomorrow unfolds, let’s do more than give casual assent to God’s innumerable blessings.  Let’s actually name them–“one by one,”
as the classic hymn says.  When we do, we’ll see that, though undeserving, we are the recipients of more than can be actually enumerated.

It is my prayer that you will have the most blessed and Happy
Thanksgiving EVER!

Dave Kistler
President, HOPE Ministries International/HOPE To The Hill
President, North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN)
Co-host, Stand In The Gap Radio