Thanksgiving and Hope

Ephesians 1:15-23 is a prayer of thanksgiving.  The thanksgiving goes to God for faith and love (1:15-16).  However, thanksgiving is more than simply celebrating what is true about the past and the present.  It includes the future.  When we thank God, we express our trust in God that He will continue to be as faithful and trustworthy as has always been the case.  That is why the prayer of thanksgiving transforms into a prayer of hope.  It is a prayer for the Spirit of wisdom (1:17) “in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you…” (1:18).  How will we spend this coming Thanksgiving?  Will it only be a break in the routine of work so that we can have a day off to spend with family and friends?  Or will it be a day of focusing on God as the Giver of all good things?  Moreover, will it be a day of hope during which we will have the opportunity to surrender our concerns and anxieties about the future so that the God of hope can give us peace and security based on His trustworthiness?  Blessed Thanksgiving!

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