With people from different families, cultural ecosystems, and worldviews all coming together this Thanksgiving, it can sometimes be a little nerve-wracking to navigate. Thankfully, there are some easy, biblical ways to cultivate an attitude of comradery as you all sit down to the Thanksgiving table!

1. Find Your Second Witness!

Scripture tells us that wherever two or more are gathered in Yeshua's name, He is with them. So all you need to do is find ONE other person to agree with you in prayer and invite His presence into your space. You and your second witness can act like the two Shabbat candlesticks, opening up the Gates of Righteousness and welcoming shalom. This can be your spouse, a friend, or even a parent. Anyone that you can agree in prayer with! Say a quick prayer together and dedicate your day to the Lord.

"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.”

- Matthew 18:19-20 TLV

2. Cultivate Unity

Despite everyone being from different walks of life, unity can be found in one simple act: sharing the things we're grateful for. Whether you share them around the table out loud, write them down in a book of remembrance, or create a craft together, the act of expressing gratitude becomes the main event of your time together. (You can learn about creating a book of remembrance in our Family Bible or Heritage Edition.) Another way to cultivate unity is by asking everyone to say the Lord's Prayer together before the feasting begins. It's an easy prayer that most people know by heart and can rattle off without difficulty. With everyone aligning themselves in prayer, being of one heart and mind becomes so much easier!

“Therefore, pray in this way: “‘Our Father in heaven, sanctified be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’"

- Matthew 6:9-13 TLV

3. Honor God

Honoring God sounds like an ethereal concept, but in reality, it's rather simple. We honor God by saying a prayer before or after we eat. We honor God by choosing not to discuss upsetting topics that we know will lead to arguments. We honor God by behaving graciously and appropriately. We honor God by giving out of our abundance to those who are in need. We honor God by being generous, kind, and gentle. We honor God by covering others' indiscretions with love and understanding. We honor God when we act as if He's in the room with us.

"Rejoice in the Lord always—again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything—but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—put these things into practice, and the God of shalom will be with you."

- Philippians 4:4-9 TLV

If you keep each of these three things in mind, you can have a tremendously fulfilling feast day - both physically and spiritually. Enjoy the day and delight in all the things God has given you in the last year! Whether it's new faces around the table, dreams that have come back to life, or hopes for the future that are blossoming, there's so much to be grateful for.

So from our family to yours, thank you! Thank you for supporting the Tree of Life Version and our mission to spread the Gospel through Bible literacy. Thank you for joining the Journey of Israel with us once more and we pray you have a wonderful holiday!