Thanksgiving comes this month, and on different days each year, so this is to get you ready prior to the day (whenever it arrives in the year you’re reading this).

And be thankful!

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Col. 3:15)

Thank Him because He is good! 

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (1 Chron. 16:34)

Thank Him in all you do!

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Col. 3:17)

"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Rom. 5:2 ESV)

Given to believers

“But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.” (Gal. 4:22)

Righteousness by faith

“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Rom. 1:17)

Dwells in your heart by faith

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.” (Eph. 3:16-17)

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11)

1) By the blood of the lamb (what Jesus paid for.)

2) By the word of your testimony (your outspoken witness - what you confess and say about Jesus.)

The blood of the Lamb

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” (Eph. 1:7)

“For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (Col. 1:19-20)

“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14)

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13)

“For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (Col. 1:19-22 NASB)

Your testimony (your outspoken witness)

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV)

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.” (Prov. 4:20-22

Attentive defined:

Paying close attention. Perceptive, observant, alert, acute, aware, heedful, vigilant.

 Incline defined:

Feel willing or favorably disposed toward. Willing, ready, prepared; predisposed.

 Keep defined:

Remain, continue to be, stay, carry on, persist in.

In other words, to have “life” and “healing”

Pay close attention to God’s Word (read it and meditate on it), listen carefully to His sayings. Keep your eyes upon them with persistence.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7)

Abide defined: Accept or act in accordance with. Comply with, obey, observe, follow, keep to, hold to, conform to, adhere to, stick to, stand by, act in accordance with, uphold, heed, accept, go along with.

Abide in Jesus

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. ‘I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.’” (John 15:4-5)

“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.” (1 John 2:28)

“The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (1 John 3:24)

Abide in Christ’s teaching

“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 1:9)

Abide in His love

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10)

“The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” (1 John 2:6)

“As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” (1 John 2:24)

Leaders come and go. All are temporary. The Bible tells us to “pray for leaders who have authority over us” ….. “Without anger or disputing.” And, when you do so, “it pleases God our Savior.”

Pray for all people in authority!

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing." (1 Tim. 2:1-8)

“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him — his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” (Psalm 68:4-5)

“The LORD will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.” (Prov. 15:25)

Protects strangers

“The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked." (Psalm 146:9)

Justice for orphans

"He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.” (Deut. 10:18)

"There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered." (Proverbs 11:24-25)

Give generously  

"Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to." (Deut. 15:10)

 Give according to the blessing

"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you." (Deut. 16:17)

 And you will be blessed

"He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor." (Proverbs 22:9)

 God loves a cheerful giver

"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." (2 Cor. 9:6-8)

 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over!

"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." (Luke 6:38)

“Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

 These people "won't inherit the Kingdom of God"

This verse lists a few kinds of people who won't inherit the kingdom of God: wrongdoers, sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who have sex with men, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, and swindlers!

But, there is good news! 

There is hope for them! God has the power to change people, no matter how sinful they may be!

That's what some of you "were" 

This same passage says something else truly remarkable! “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

God has the power to change people!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

It's done by declaring and believing Jesus

“If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10)