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Give Thanks!


“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:18)

For a number of years, we’ve been participating in a host program for international students at a local university.  The students didn’t actually live with us but we would have them over for occasional meals and would endeavor to share a little of what life is like in the United States. 

I’m not sure what type of information was given to them in the way of orientation, but they seemed to assume that people in the U.S. are generally religious and that we pray before meals.  In fact, the first year we participated in the program, we had a student from Taiwan to our house for a meal.  I wasn’t sure if he would be offended if we prayed so I chose not to.  As we were about to start eating, the student asked if we were going to pray.  Ooops!  We went ahead and prayed!

Since then, with our international guests present, we’ve always prayed before meals.  The students dutifully bow their heads and join us in prayer as we give thanks.  Since it appears that most of the students are not Christians, the question arises, what exactly are they doing when they join us in giving thanks to God?

Prayers of genuine thanks should probably be built upon:

  1. A relationship with God:  why would you pray to someone you don’t know?  And, for some, why would you pray to someone you might not even believe exists?

  1. Attributing the provision to the one who provided:  would it be right to thank someone who was not the source of what you received? 

  1. Being truly thankful:  wouldn’t it be a mostly empty “thank you” if you are compelled to say it? 


Prayers of thanks are especially appropriate for Thanksgiving.  And, as we are now in that holiday season, I am reminded of the song “Give Thanks”:

“Give thanks with a grateful heart”…that’s being truly thankful.

“Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ His Son”…that’s attributing the gift of the Son to the One who gave Him.

“Because of what the Lord has done for us”…that’s acknowledging a relationship.

It’s possible that the international students who join us in prayer are full of thanks but are they really thankful?  Perhaps, if their full of thanks is build on the right foundation!

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