October 5, 2018
Hey all, it's FRIDAY! Even better, it's Thanksgiving long weekend! The weekend where families gather together for a big meal and celebrate together. A lot of people think this holiday is just an extra day off of work and a time to load up on the turkey and stuffing, but the real meaning of this holiday is in the name. Thanks-giving. This holiday is really about giving God thanks for everything he has done. Philippians 4:6 says, "6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (NIV). It says to give thanks in everything. Not just when we have a holiday or when things are going good, but even when we're having a crappy day or a relative has died, in whatever circumstances we are to give thanks.
This does not mean that we can't be sad or annoyed that we are going through hard things but we are called to focus on God, not our problems. We are called to find something that IS going right and thank the lord for those things. Who knows this could change your whole mood! A tip my LDP leader gave me was to think of five things I am thankful right then and there, while I'm in a situation giving me loads of anxiety and thank God for it. She told me to do it one hundred times a day if needed. Guess what! It really works! If your going through a rough situation and have no hope, thank God for all the things you have or that he has given you, it will put your focus back on him and the problem seems so much less intimidating.
Thankfulness should be part of our whole day, whether you have a job or are going through high school, junior high or middle school, or are at home with a sick child, be thankful. God loves it when you tell him that you love all the things He has done. He never gets tired of it. So remember all of these things this weekend as we all have our turkey dinner's and family gatherings. Remember that this holiday is to help us to remember to thank God for our many blessings. Oh how he has blessed us!
-Emmers
YOU ARE READING
Learning to trust: My journal
SpiritualThis is my journal of my life with anxiety, to give those of you who don't know what it feels like a glimpse of how it feels. I will also be giving some encouragement on certain topics that I'm learning about or experiencing. Hope you like it!
