 Give Thanks!
Thanksgiving Proclamation 1623
Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.
Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.
--William Bradford
Ye Governor of Ye Colony
This declaration was pronounced after three years of hardship, disease, starvation and toil. It is a testament to the faith, perseverance and attitude of our first founding fathers. Governor William Bradford and the Pilgrims who landed on these shores November 11, 1620 began the endeavor that became America. They laid the foundation of this nation as a people in Covenant with God and each other.
The first years in the new land the Pilgrims rationed food, struggling to make it through the winters on scant provisions. In 1622, the winter known as the Starving Time, the pilgrims survived on five kernels of corn per day. The following year looked even bleaker. After planting abundant crops, the region experienced one of the most severe droughts in its history. The neighboring tribes could not recall ever having experienced one of its magnitude. As the pilgrims watched their tender plants shrivel and die in the parched ground, they must have remembered their gnawing bellies and gaunt faces of the Starving Time. Yet these Pilgrims knew that one of the keys to flowing in abundance is to make a choice of perspective. They could not go back home. They could not communicate with their relatives. They did not have emergency aid from their government. They were at the mercy of the elements, and yet they did not despair. They turned to God in prayer and fasting, and they recognized the secret weapon of survival – Thanksgiving!
William Bradford writes in his account:
I may not here omit how, notwithstand all their great pains and industry, and the great hopes of a large crop, the Lord seemed to blast, and take away the same, and to threaten further and more sore famine unto them. By a great drought which continued from the third week in May, till about the middle of July, without any rain and with great heat for the most part, insomuch as the corn began to wither away though it was set with fish, the moisture whereof helped it much. Yet at length it began to languish sore, and some of the drier grounds were parched like withered hay, part whereof was never recovered. Upon which they set apart a solemn day of humiliation, to seek the Lord by humble and fervent prayer, in this great distress. And he was pleased to give them a gracious and speedy answer, both to their own and the Indians' admiration that lived amongst them. For all the morning, and the greater part of the day, it was clear weather and very hot, and not a cloud or any sign of rain to be seen; yet toward evening it began to overcast, and shortly after to rain with such sweet and gentle showers as gave them cause of rejoicing and blessing God. It came without either wind or thunder or any violence, and by degrees in that abundance as that the earth was thoroughly wet and soaked and therewith. Which did so apparently revive and quicken the decayed corn and other fruits, as was wonderful to see, and made the Indians astonished to behold. And afterwards the Lord sent to them such seasonable showers, with interchange of fair warm weather as, through His blessing, caused a fruitful and liberal harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoicing. For which mercy, in time convenient, they also set apart a day of thanksgiving.
This is the birthing of our nation! These founding fathers and mothers had awesome, fierce faith in God. They were real people who had a revelation of a Covenant-Keeping, Miracle-Working God.
The opposite of thanksgiving is complaining. We want to renounce that. It is an affront to our Heavenly Father, and in opposition to faith. In the wilderness, the children of Israel who murmured and complained were judged by God and did not make it into the Promised Land. From this Thanksgiving on, let us renounce the critical and murmuring spirit. Where there is a complaining spirit you will find depression, discouragement and disease will follow. Complaining and criticism set up an atmosphere for the demonic to dwell. Complaining only amplifies frustration, discontentment and discord. Psalm 77:3 says, “I complained and my heart was overwhelmed.” The antidote to the poison fangs of the devil is thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving, let us make a conscious decision to fast from complaining and criticism. We want to be thankful!
Five Kernels – Five Thanks
Psalm 103 is a great Scripture to declare. The Psalmist literally commands his soul to bless the Lord. He recounts the benefits, stirring up thanksgiving in his heart: Verses 1-5 say,
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
When the Pilgrims gathered for that first thanksgiving, they began the feast in honor of what God had brought them through. They each began with five kernels of corn. Here are five kernels of thanks that we can honor the Lord with this Thanksgiving and daily throughout the year:
1. He forgives! We are forgiven of all our sins. Jesus never changes, so we are always forgiven, and always have an Advocate with the Father.
2. He redeems our life from the pit! When you are redeemed curses are broken, and we step into the blessings of Abraham. Begin to thank the Lord that the CURSE IS BROKEN over your life, over your family and over our nation.
3. He heals all your diseases! God not only has made provision for your healing, but He has commissioned you to be an instrument of healing to others. Begin to worship and thank Him for His healing virtue, and you will begin to vibrate with His healing glory.
4. Crowns you with love and compassion. His love and compassion are with you and for you to a thousand generations! Authority flows out of the revelation of His love. Thank Him and take hold of this for you and your children and grandchildren.
5. Youth renewed like an eagles’ – Those that wait on the Lord shall mount up with wings like eagles. There is a promise that we can soar even in the winds of adversity. Let thanksgiving launch you above the storm and propel you to the heights.
We want to be thankful. We want to be thankful for America, and the Christian heritage and foundation we have been given by God. We want to be thankful for and uphold the Republic, freedoms, founding principles and especially our religious freedoms.
As we gather with our loved ones, friends and families this Thanksgiving, we remember that we did not get here on our own. We stand on the shoulders of great men and women of faith like Bradford and the Pilgrims. We are the benefactors of the godly heritage they and our founding fathers have passed down to us. We are protected by our armed forces that have laid their lives on the line through the generations, and who continue to stand guard over our borders and abroad in Iraq, Afghanistan. Let us especially give thanks and cover our armed forces and their families in prayer this Thanksgiving season.
Many thanksgiving blessings to you and your household,
Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda
All rights reserved. No part of this message can be used without permission. © 2009
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