On the eve of Thanksgiving Day, we prepare ourselves to thank God for his blessings.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
Psalm 100:3-4 English Standard Version

The orange rock to the right in this picture is known as the North Gate Rock, and, you guessed it, the rock on the extreme left is the South Gate Rock. These two sandstone formations have framed many photographers’ pictures of Pikes Peak. They form a gap that draws us further into Garden.

Though this opening is not the gate into the temple in Jerusalem, many of us feel that these rocks are God’s gates that lead us to thanksgiving. And with such an entrance we are called to lift our hands to the God of heaven and earth; the God who sent his Son to a cross for his wounded sheep.

And so it’s Thanksgiving Eve. Tomorrow, God’s Spirit will draw us into his presence to give thanks. Many of us will sit around our Thanksgiving tables giving thanks for our blessings. We’ll share these blessings with our family and friends as we lift our hands to God.

Our thanks are better than the smell of turkey, the taste of pumpkin pie, or the clarity of wine to God. As we enjoy fellowship and laughter with each other, may we fall on our knees in thanksgiving to our gracious and loving God.

I will especially give thanks to God for you, the readers and supporters of the Praying With The Eyes Ministry. Your faithfulness encourages and humbles me. May God bless all of you as you give thanks to our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner