The American Thanksgiving Holiday is tomorrow. I put it that way because I have some readers who live around the world. I have written about thankfulness many times before and its rightful place in our Christian life. There is a phrase I used to hear all the time when I was a boy, but not quite as often today; “Thank Goodness!” It was uttered with a sigh of relief that something bad didn’t happen. I never really gave it much thought until now. What an odd thing to thank! I never heard anyone thank honesty or loyalty; only goodness. I did some research and found what I had suspected all along; it is a way of thanking God without mentioning Him by name.
Why would someone want to thank God without using His name? Do they think it might give God a big head to thank Him for everything? Do they not want someone listening to know they are grateful to God for His mercy? I think using euphemisms for God might just be a habit picked up by people who also say, “Gosh Darn” instead of using God’s name in vain; somehow believing God doesn’t know what they really mean when they use those words.
The more you get to know God through studying His word, prayer time with Him and the promptings of His Spirit within you, the better you understand that you can’t conceal anything from Him. The thoughts of your mind and the meditations of your heart are open books to Him. He not only understands every language; He knows what is meant by every word you use. Jesus explains that to us when He teaches that keeping the law God laid out in the Old Testament with words and actions isn’t enough. If we lust with our hearts or hate with our minds; we are guilty.(Matthew 5:27-28 and Matthew 5:22) Even what we don’t do or say can make us guilty; sinning by omission. (James 4:17) That is why we need God’s Holy Spirit to provide the strength and wisdom to get us safely through that minefield of guilt.
Like Adam and Eve, I learned the hard way that you don’t play hide and seek with God and you certainly don’t try to project your guilt on someone else or try to mislead God with the words you use. When something bad doesn’t happen, I say out loud, “Thank you, Lord, for your mercy!” When something good happens, I say, “Thank you for your grace and blessings Lord!” I use the word Lord because today everyone knows it is God and not some human title. Lord also applies to my Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
God loves it when we are comfortable sharing our deepest feelings, thoughts and needs with Him; letting our hair down, so to speak, completely relaxed and unguarded. When we open ourselves up to God completely, He will always be happy to fill us completely with His peace and joy. When we experience that kind of relationship with Him here, we can’t help but look forward to eternity with Him in the kingdom of heaven.