PLUS

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day and for ever.”

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was the architect of the tactically successful attack on Pearl Harbor. Following the attack, it is said that Yamamoto lamented: “I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” Indeed, this dizzying tactical success turned into a dramatic strategic failure as the awakened sleeping giant fought back with resolve.

The Christian electorate finally seems to be awakening after the attacks we have endured during the last several years. If last month’s election results in Ohio, Houston, Kentucky, and elsewhere are any indication, Christians are finally engaged with resolve in the political process. Molly Ball, staff writer at The Atlantic described the results as “a backlash from mainstream voters.” (http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/liberals-are-losing-the-culture-war/414175/)

Maybe we were finally prodded off the sidelines. Maybe we finally realized that it is our responsibility to pray for elections and vote according to Biblical values. Maybe we were tired of hearing that we were ‘on the wrong side of history’ or ‘out of step with the times.’ Maybe we recognized that our rights could be the next ones trampled upon. Maybe we awoke to the truth that our Lord does not ‘evolve’ in His beliefs.

Regardless of the reason, this off-cycle election is a small indication that we can turn our recent tactical losses into the motivation for strategic triumph. May we not just accept this single victory, but instead see it as a sign of our power if we fully awaken and stand with an unchanging Christ.

PLEASE PRAY THAT CHRISTIANS WOULD FULLY AWAKEN TO OUR CITIZENSHIP RESPONSIBLITIES. May we sleep no longer!

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (that political correctness hinders our ability to solve major national problems), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

The 1777 Thanksgiving Proclamation by the Continental Congress was bursting with thankfulness, praise, and gratitude (see the previous post). The colonists recognized that it was their indispensible duty to uplift the Lord’s name in this way. Yet, in historical context it was not a time that thankfulness, praise, and gratitude came naturally.

Though the Continental Army had recently won the Battle of Saratoga, they were years from victory. In fact, the British had just captured Philadelphia and the poorly fed and equipped revolutionaries were about ready to settle down at Valley Forge for a harsh winter a short distance from the British ranks. The Americans had no major allies and were struggling to maintain themselves as a viable fighting force. Yet, they took time to give solemn thanksgiving and praise.

Our circumstances should not dictate our attitude towards God. Regardless of whether the enemies of God in this nation are closing in on all sides, we should have a spirit that gives solemn thanksgiving and praise.

REGARDLESS OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, WE MUST MAINTAIN AN ATTITUDE OF THANKSFULNESS AND PRAISE. It is the only way that, under Christ’s nurturing hand, we can cultivate the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety.

Psalm 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

The following Thanksgiving Proclamation, America’s first, was issued by the Continental Congress on November 1^st, 1777:

“FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth ‘in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.’

And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.”

The Continental Congress recognized our profound obligation to God. They encouraged us to praise and worship Him with one heart and one voice out of gratefulness. They recognized they we don’t deserve His mercy, and encouraged our repentance.

EVEN AFTER THANKSGIVING, PLEASE CONTINUE TO BLESS HIS NAME. It is our indispensible duty!

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (that the scene on Black Friday belies a spirit of thankfulness and contentment), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

Psalm 9:1-4 “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all they marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.”

The following proclamation was issued by the President of Congress on October 26^th, 1781:

“Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, the Father of Mercies, remarkably to assist and support the United States of America in their important struggle for liberty against the long-continued efforts of a powerful nation, it is the duty of all ranks to observe and thankfully acknowledge the interpositions of his Providence in their behalf; Through the whole of the contest from its first rise to this time the influence of Divine Providence may be clearly perceived in many signal instances, of which we mention but a few:

In revealing the counsels of our enemies, when the discoveries were seasonable and important, and the means seemingly inadequate or fortuitous.

In preserving and even improving the union of the several states on the breach of which our enemies placed their greatest dependence,

In increasing the number and adding to the zeal and attachment of friends of liberty,

In granting remarkable deliverances and blessings with the most signal success, when affairs seemed to have the most discouraging appearance,

In raising up for us a most powerful and generous ally in one of the first of European Powers,

In confounding the counsels of our enemies and suffering them to pursue such measures a shave most directly contributed to frustrate their own desires and expectations: above all

In making their extreme cruelty to the inhabitants of those states when in their power and their savage devastation of property the very means of cementing our Union and adding vigor to every effort in opposition to them; and as we cannot help leading the good people of these states to a retrospect on the events which have taken place since the beginning of the war so we may recommend in a particular manner to their observation the goodness of God in the year now drawing to a conclusion in which the Confederation of the United States has been completed,

In which there have been so many instances of prowess and success in our armies, particularly in the southern states, where, notwithstanding the difficulties with which they had to struggle, they have recovered the whole country which the enemy had overrun, leaving them only a post or two on or near the sea,

In which we have been so powerfully and effectually assisted by our allies, while in all the unjust operations, the most perfect harmony has subsisted in the allied army: In which there has been so plentiful a harvest, and so great abundance of the fruits of the earth of every kin, as not only enable us easily to supply the wants of our army, but gives comfort and happiness to the whole people,

And in which, after the success of our allies by sea, a general of the first rank with his whole army has been captured by the allied forces under the direction of our commander-in-chief.

It is therefore recommended to the several states to set apart the THIRTEENTH day of DECEMBER next, to be religiously observed as a day of THANKSGIVING and PRAYER; that all the people may assemble on that day with grateful hearts to celebrate the praises of our glorious Benefactor, to confess our manifold sins, to offer up our most fervent supplications to the God of all grace that it may please Him to pardon our offense, and incline our hearts for the future, to keep all His laws, to comfort and relieve all our brethren who are in distress or captivity, to prosper our husbandmen, and give strength to all engaged in lawful commerce; to impart wisdom and integrity to our counselors, judgment and fortitude to our officers and soldiers; to protect and prosper our illustrious ally and favor our united exertions for the speedy establishment of a safe, honorable, and lasting peace, to bless our seminaries of learning, and cause the knowledge of God to cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.”

This proclamation, signed a week after the monumental American victory at Yorktown, is filled with specific reasons why the colonists should be thankful. Our day of Thanksgiving should be filled with the same.

We should pray and give praise for delivery out of discouraging circumstances. We should pray and give praise for improving zeal and unity with like-minded believers. We should pray and give praise for allies that are joining our cause. We should pray and give praise for situations that confound our adversaries. We should pray and give praise for conditions the reveal the cruel ideology of our enemies.

PLEASE PRAY AND GIVE PRAISE FOR THE MANY SPECIFIC BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES. It is the duty of all ranks to do so. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Please click on the following links to see previous posts on Thanksgiving:
https://prayatlunch.us/give-thanks/
https://prayatlunch.us/a-good-god/
https://prayatlunch.us/by-our-prayers-and-our-gratitude/
https://prayatlunch.us/thanksgiving/
https://prayatlunch.us/common-days/
https://prayatlunch.us/contentment/

Romans 1:21 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

This coming week we celebrate Thanksgiving. American history is filled with Thanksgiving proclamations (I will use the 1777 and 1781 ones in the following posts) that help us remember the true spirit of this quintessential, Bible-based American holiday. I especially appreciate the characteristic of Thanksgiving that makes it different from all other holidays.

Thanksgiving is the only holiday that carries with it an explicit obligation – to reach out to the Lord in humble thankfulness. It is a day not about celebration, but all about praise. May we take this obligation seriously!

This isn’t a day in which our focus should be on watching enjoyable football or festive parades. It isn’t a day in which our focus should be on feasting on wonderful food. It isn’t even a day in which we should focus on celebrating with family and friends. None of these things are bad and they can all be incorporated into Thanksgiving, but they don’t fulfill the obligation that accompanies this day.

It is a day to give thanks. We should never turn it into anything else. We certainly shouldn’t turn it into “turkey day” or whatever secular culture uses to mask the meaning of a day where our true focus should be upward and nowhere else.

PLEASE SPEND THANKSGIVING IN HUMBLE PRAISE TO THE LORD. Don’t let the fourth Thursday of November slip by without meeting the obligation that this day demands.

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (that a lack of faithfulness makes our nation more vulnerable), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!