Another Thanksgiving is in the books, and for some of us—maybe most of us— the desperate rush to get ready for Christmas is underway, sometimes even before the leftover turkey is in the freezer.

Decorations. Cards. Gifts. Meal planning. 

And this year, the race stars even sooner as Thanksgiving was as late as it could possibly be, which robbed of us a couple of needed days.

But . . . even though the official holiday is over, let’s still Slow Down . . . Look Around . . . and Give Thanks each day and including Christmas morning.

Below I have listed 26 verses of thanksgiving. One for each of the 26 days (counting today and Christmas morning) before Christmas.

I hope you take the time to read one each day, reflect, and give thanks. 

(Perhaps copy and paste them into a word document you could print.)

November 30--Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

December 1 --Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

December 2 — Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

December 3 --All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15

December 4 --Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

December 5 --Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

December 6 --Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

December 7 --Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:10

December 8 --and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:12

December 9 --Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:29

December 10 — . . . continue to live in [Christ], rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

December 11 --But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

December 12 --Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

December 13 --Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, Hebrews 12:18

December 14 --I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High. Psalm 7:17

December 15 --I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

December 16 --I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. Psalm 35:18

December 17 --I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

December 18 — Praise the LORD.Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

December 19 --Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, Revelation 4:9

December 20 --But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD. Jonah 2:9

December 21 --“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. Revelation 11:17

December 22 --For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. I Timothy 4:4-5

December 23 --Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. Psalm 107:21-22

December 24 --Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. Psalm 95:1-3

December 25 —For unto us a child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6-7 

​Give Thanks

We all know the old adage coined by Benjamin Franklin— “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” but that hasn’t stopped us from violating it, now, has it?

Squeegeeing the shower after use? Hmmm.

Flossing? Double Hmmm.

Insulating the pipes before the first freeze? Maybe tomorrow.

We also know that the time it takes to do these things is minuscule compared to the amount of elbow grease, time, and money required to fix it afterwards, yet we still often hesitate to do the little things that will save us from big problems later.

While all this procrastination causes problems in our day-to-day lives, this adage is even more important at the spiritual level. 

The Bible is chock-full of “prevention” measures that will save us from the repercussions of sinful choices. 

First by our own choices and actions: Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked. Don’t do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way (Proverbs 4:14-15).

Avoid stupid arguments, long lists of ancestors, quarrels, and fights about the Law. They are useless and worthless (Titis 3:9).

Then by whom we choose to listen to: Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you (Proverbs 4:6).

But the cornerstone of all this prevention is where we get our wisdom from. Though Psalm 119:9 and 11 address the young, the advice is universal. 

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.

I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.

The Bible provides so much advice on how to prevent sin and its consequential hurt, despair, and destruction in our lives, that spending any amount of time in it and committing it to memory each day will save us from years of pain.

​As another adage reminds us: Prepare and prevent, don’t repair and repent.

To every thing there is a season . . . (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

I love the fall of the year. It is beautiful and peaceful. But it comes at a cost.

Those beautiful leaves don’t just happen. The trees go through some stressors before the brilliant colors arrive.

Because the length of daylight decreases and the temperatures drop, the leaves stop making food, causing the chlorophyll to break down and the green to disappear. This causes other chemical changes to occur.


So, one might say, the leaves are starved of their usual food, which creates the brilliant colors we see.

Some of us may feel that once the summer of our lives—that season of high energy and production—has passed that we don’t have a lot to offer. Our energy is lower. Our activity decreased.

But that is not the case. We have a lifetime of experience—of pleasures and sufferings—and, as Romans 5:3-4 reminds us, that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

​There is a reason this season of one’s life is compared to the fall of the year, for a life surrendered to God will produce the beautiful colors of peace, character, and hope for all to see, enjoy, and take inspiration from. 

It’s over. The results are in. And now . . . there is a problem.

The problem is NOT who was elected or not elected—whether at the local, state, or national level.

The problem is NOT the number of voters who turned up or who those voters were.

The problem is that some people feel the country is now doomed while others feel it has been saved.


​
The problem is that some people — many people — continue to put their hope in a man — or a woman. 

Now more than ever, Christians need to unite to live out Psalm 20:77: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

Any other trust is misplaced.

My sister has created her own season. From October 1 through March 31—the time of year that is the coldest and darkest—she deems Candle Season. During this time, she lights many of the candles throughout her house. It is calming — and beautiful.

We are called to be the light of the world. We need to be a reminder to the world that while God uses people to accomplish His goals, our trust should never be in the people, nor in our assumptions of what He has planned for that person to accomplish. We need to remember that His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8).

Most of us have followed God’s calling, been confident in that decision after much prayer, only to discover that what we thought would happen didn’t, and then we would shake our head in confusion and anger. Let’s not make that same mistake now on a local, state, or national level.

I have a little candle in my home (see photo) and inside I have the fruits of the spirit written on small slips of paper. Each week, I pick a new one to focus on and put in front of the candle. It is a reminder to me that my first calling is to be an ambassador for Christ in a dark world. 

While some of us might be elated with the election results and others disappointed, as Christians we should all be thankful that God is still in control, that He is worthy of our praise and the elected officials our prayers, and that through the days, months, and years to come, we are to be His light to a world whose expectations and hopes in our elected officials could once again fall short—and will always fall short—this side of Christ’s return.

It’s finally here. Election Day. Much has been said about this election. Perhaps too much. So I will let God speak the final words. 

He [God] changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others (Daniel 2:21).

For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God (Romans 13:1).

​
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6).

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).

​Amen.