The Thanksgiving Invitation

There is power in a heartfelt thank you! Recently Oceans hosted a group of Wycliffe Bible translators from Madagascar. They were some of the most gracious people I have ever met. Their English was limited, but one phrase they knew very well was “thank you!”

Greeting them each morning in the dining room I would ask how they slept. With big smiles they would reply, “Good, good! Thank you!” And when I inquired about Thobeka’s breakfast of eggs, bacon or flapjacks, they would give the same response. Over the next several days here in South Africa we definitely stretched their taste buds, as in Madagascar a bowl of rice is main food for each and every meal.

One morning before eating the group burst forth in a song of praise and filled the dining room with a heavenly peace, what a way great way to start the day!

I would say a spirit of thankfulness and the main food of turkey seems to be the focus of the upcoming American holiday. As a pastor back in the US I always loved the Thanksgiving service. God’s children both young and old often shared testimonies. Theses testimonies shifted the atmosphere as grateful hearts gave praise to a gracious Father. I would leave those services filled up, even before feasting on turkey.

In Psalm 100 we are given an invitation by the Holy Spirit to join in a Thanksgiving Celebration like no other. And the only requirement for you to enter into this festive celebration is this:

“You can pass through His open gates (doorway) with the password of praise. Come right into His presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to Him and affectionately bless His beautiful name!” (Ps. 100:4 TPL).

I love that “praise” AND “thanksgiving” are the “password” into the presence of our precious Savior God. Making our focus to lift up thanksgiving to the One who has given us abundant life, is a prelude to what we will experience for eternity when we enter heavens realm.

For when we declare as the Psalmist did:

“Yahweh is always good and ready to receive you. He’s so loving that it will amaze you – so kind that it will astound you! And He is famous for His faithfulness toward all. Everyone knows our God can be trusted, for He keeps His promises to every generation,” (Psalm 100:5 TPT)

We feast on His soul satisfying presence.

My Madagascar friends’ spirit of Thankfulness was a direct invitation for me to join them in a heavenly Thanksgiving feast to “taste and see that the LORD is good!”

May you invite others into the Father’s presence through your spirit of praise and thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!