Christian Writers Circle

Thanks to You, L0RD
O Most High
by Brenda D. Flowers

Psalms 9:1-2 NIV  I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all of my heart, I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

The fourth Thursday in November is a very special day in the United States. It is our holiday set aside to honor God with our thanks. Several other countries also have days set aside for thanksgiving. God exalts the nations who honor Him. It is good to remember God’s Word to the nations:

Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:38 NKJV)

As I have researched the history of America’s Thanksgiving, I was touched by these words of  our 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln (from Proclamation 118—Thanksgiving Day, 1864, during the time period of the Civil War). In the first section of his proclamation, Lincoln shares faithfully about how “Almighty God” had taken care of the nation. He ended that section with these words: 

“Moreover, He has been pleased to animate and inspire our minds and hearts with fortitude, courage, and resolution sufficient for the great trial of civil war into which we have been brought by our adherence as a nation to the cause of freedom and humanity, and to afford to us reasonable hopes of an ultimate and happy deliverance from all our dangers and afflictions:”

President Lincoln desired that a Thanksgiving Day be set aside “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.”  And he further recommended that his fellow-citizens “do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of Events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.”

As I meditate on the quoted Scriptures and the words of Abraham Lincoln,  I am thankful that Abraham Lincoln was willing to bravely lead our citizens to return to righteousness and to humbly seek God with penitent and fervent prayers and supplications. As our country’s leader, he recognized the importance of honoring Sovereign God. He shared his faith boldly. Praise the Lord, our nation was restored.

It is November, 2023. As I write this post, nations around the world are in the midst of great conflicts. People are suffering. America is at a crossroads. Are we going to be a nation that stands for righteousness?

We, who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, are challenged to lead boldly in our families, communities and nations. May we realize how our humble penitent and fervent prayers to God Most High matter. This Thanksgiving Day may we honor Him with our thoughts, words and deeds.

He is worthy of our praise!