Thanksgiving Meal-Prep Essentials!

Are you in the middle of Thanksgiving preparations? It’s a big weekend to get all the necessary stuff together as you prepare to gather together. Whether you’re hosting a big gathering, bringing a side-dish, going out for dinner, or like us, traveling to spend the holiday with family— be sure you don’t leave out the main ingredients.

In praying over our Thanksgiving holiday, the Lord interrupted my to-do list, and reminded me of the critical ingredients in my preparations. So, I’m just sharing the love with you today, lest you forget. Because there’s nothing worse than digging into a slice of pumpkin pie a realizing you left out the spices 🥧—know what I mean?

My Holiday Prep List:

Create in me a new, clean heart, O God,
renew a right spirit in me, filled with clean thoughts and right desires…
Psalm 51:10

Lord, Prepare Me—

  1. Prepare my Heart
    Search my heart, and show me what’s in there, Lord. I know that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). So before I ever get to speaking, clean my heart out, Lord, and please point out any offensive way in me… any way that is leading me astray with distractions, and self-focus. Cause me to vigilantly guard my heart, for out of it spring the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). Course-correct the waters of my heart to flow in Your Truth, Lord.
  2. Prepare my Mind
    Lord, I know that the way I think will direct both my life and my words (Proverbs 23:7). O Lord, captivate my mind with Your thoughts. Fill my mind and keep me thinking on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse… and to put into action all You’ve taught me so that everything will be excellent and harmonious (Philippians 4:8-9).
  3. Prepare my Ego
    Father, crucify the pride in my flesh, and keep Your spirit of humility on me! I know we humans are glory-hungry at heart. Please make me hungry for You and let the ways of Jesus in me crush my ego. Guard me from any bit of seeking glory for myself— shred any trace of the need to be right, to have the last word, to be noticed and appreciated. You are my Savior— and have saved me from myself. Let Your glory eclipse me in blessed anonymity.
  4. Prepare my Mouth
    O Lord, consecrate my mouth to be used by You. Muzzle me to keep me from saying what I’m thinking. Set a guard over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly (Psalm 141:3). Likewise—prepare my heart and my mouth to be used by You.
  5. Prepare my Words and the Gospel in Me
    Lord, You’ve given me, and every human, the ability to speak and communicate. Oh, how precious our words are—life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Help me to remember that one day I will have to give an account to you of every careless word I speak (Matthew 12:36-37), and that gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body (Proverbs 16:24). So, Lord, fill my mouth with life-giving-grace-filled words for every person I come in contact with. And let me be sensitive to and aware of those who need Jesus Christ: Help me to be not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16)… and to always be prepared to winsomely explain to everyone who asks me, the reason for the hope that I have in Jesus…and to do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
  6. Prepare my Hands
    Lord, me help me seek not to be served, but to serve others as Your servant— and in whatever I do, in word or deed, to do everything in the name of my Lord Jesus— who is my beautiful Servant King— and to give thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).
  7. Prepare my Actions
    I have often said that people walk into a room in one of two ways, either, “Here I am!” or “There you are!” Lord, I pray always to be a there you are person—noticing people, and esteeming them. Thinking of others as better than myself. Taking the low position and giving others the best seat at the table. Check my motives, Lord, so that my actions will honor You, that I would do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than myself— because they are! (Philippians 2:3).
  8. Prepare my Ears
    Lord, some people never have anyone to talk to. I want to be a good listener to folks who need an ear, just like Jesus was. Please help me to listen more and talk less—and to be attentive and present when listening; not thinking about what I’m going to say next, or what I can add to what they’re saying…but to let them have the floor and my undivided attention. Thank You for this reminder to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to take offense and become angry (James 1:19). Which reminds me…
  9. Prepare my Feelings
    Lord, guard me from getting my feelings hurt; from taking offense. Ugh…I know that is just absolutely stinking to You! Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is my glory to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11). Help me to exercise some good spiritual-sense and just get over it… whatever someone says or does that is offensive or irksome to me…and to get over it quickly! It’s a waste of time—and You are bigger in me than all of that!
  10. Prepare my Appetite
    Father, give me an insatiable appetite for You! Give me a hunger and thirst that keeps me soaking up and pouring out the truth of Your gospel to everyone I come in contact with. Help me to fill up on You before I meet with people so that my every hunger pang of self will be satisfied in You—first, most, and best! Satisfy me in the morning, as I meet with you, with your unfailing love, that I will be filled with joy all the days of my life (Psalm 90:14)… and especially on Thanksgiving Day!

One More Thing

Happy and blessed Thanksgiving to you and your family. Please know that I am thinking of you, and as I pray for myself in these preparations—I am praying for you, also.

The Lord has been so much better to us than He has to be. We truly have so very much to be thankful to Him for. So, until next week— don’t forget that you are greatly and dearly loved by The King! And let’s live thankfully our beautiful, ordinary lives like women who believe it!

I love you!
xo – P❤️