Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. – Matthew 6:33
President Abraham Lincoln announced that the nation would celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday while he expressed gratitude for a Union victory in Gettysburg during a speech on this day in 1863. The national holiday was celebrated on the last Thursday in November. The president had closed government offices in previous years for local Thanksgiving observances. President Franklin Roosevelt shifted the holiday a week earlier in 1939 to allow more time for Christmas shopping. Congress determined, two years later, to return the holiday to the fourth Thursday in November, where it has remained. As you consider the nation’s history of faith and prayer today, take some time to express gratitude to the Lord for the goodness He has shown to you. Praise Him for salvation and for His transformative power in your life.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For legislators in the House and Senate as they consider and vote on legislation today.
- For the president and administration officials as they offer remembrances and commemorations of historical importance.
