Happy Soul Tending Tuesday Friend,

Though not all reading this are American, chances are that you are influenced this week by the American Holiday of Thanksgiving. The idea of being thankful to God obviously did not start in one particular country or time period in history. 

I love Thanksgiving because it causes us to pause, gather together, and focus on God and each other.

Adele Calhoun Aldberg reminds that, “Thanksgiving is possible not because everything goes perfectly but because God is present. The Spirit of God is within us—nearer to us than our own breath. It is a discipline to choose to stitch our days together with the thread of gratitude. But the decision to do so is guaranteed to stitch us closer to God. Attend to the truth that ‘bidden or unbidden, God is present.’”

Today we have a short gratitude practice. Read these four verses and see which one catches your attention:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. — Psalm 46:1-3 NIV

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 NIV

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.— Psalm 28:7 ESV

A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. — Psalm 100:1-5 ESV

Go back and reread the verse(s) that caught your eye. 

Take a moment to linger with the verse. 

What about it caught your attention? 

What can you be thankful to God for this day? Week? Or Season?

This week, recall this this truth: “Thanksgiving is possible not because everything goes perfectly but because God is present.” 

May it be well with your soul.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash