And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude… So, they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. Mark 8:6,8 (NKJV)
Traditions surrounding Thanksgiving date back centuries. After harvest season ended, communities gathered for special ceremonies to thank God for the harvest. But I can’t help wondering—what happened during years of drought and disease? Did people still gather together and give thanks when their needs weren’t met?
You may be going through a rough time right now, and while those around you are gathering together to celebrate Thanksgiving, you may be wondering how you could possibly give thanks. But what if giving thanks actually unleashed the answers you were waiting for?
Jesus was a powerful example of the miraculous power of gratitude. Mark 8 tells the story of Jesus multiplying seven loaves of bread and a few fish to feed thousands. At the time when He gave thanks, He really had nothing to be thankful for. He had a measly amount of food and thousands of hungry people to feed.
He gave thanks anyhow…for what He had and for what He trusted God to do. After giving thanks, an incredible miracle occurred and well over four thousand people were fed with plenty left over to spare.
Look for excuses today to voice your thanks wherever you go. Notice what it does inside your heart—I believe you will find that it’s something you’ll want to experience more of every day, not just once a year.