A Prayerful Heart of Gratitude
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Psalm 100:4
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Today, I want to share my thoughts on Thanksgiving as I express my thanks to God for you.
Thanksgiving Day is more than a day marked on the calendar; it is a posture of heart.
Thanksgiving calls us to reflect on God's faithfulness, abundant provision, and the innumerable blessings in our lives. In the company of family and friends, we must remember that Thanksgiving is a spiritual discipline. It reorients our hearts toward God and deepens our awareness of His presence in every season.
At some other time, I will share my journey and how God worked in my life to give me a thankful heart. Following the work of the Lord in the mid-1980s, I began closing all my correspondence with the salutation “With a Grateful Heart” as a reminder to maintain that posture.
The Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621 after incredible hardship. And their gratitude was not because they had plenty but because God's sustaining grace was their only hope.
Beloved, we are called upon to give thanks in all things. May we not only find ourselves grateful for material blessings but for the spiritual riches we have in Christ: salvation, hope, peace, and eternal life.
America's founding fathers also encouraged gratitude. President George Washington, in his 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation, declared:
“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”
Friends, as we celebrate this Thanksgiving, let's call on the Lord to lead us to practice a lifestyle of thanksgiving, being grateful not just for a day but for the rest of our lives.
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with hearts full of gratitude. Thank You for the blessings You have poured upon our lives: the gift of salvation, the love of family and friends, and Your faithfulness through every season.
Lord Jesus, help us recognize Your hand in all things, both in times of plenty and times of need. May we learn to live with thankful hearts, remembering that every good and perfect gift is from You.
As we celebrate this Thanksgiving, we lift up our nation to You. We thank You for the vision of those who established this land and for acknowledging Your providence.
Lord, we pray for unity, wisdom, and revival in our land. Lord, let our gratitude overflow into acts of kindness and love as we glorify You in all that we do.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
In closing, I challenge you to reflect on three specific things you are thankful for this year. Share those things with someone around your table or write them in a journal as an act of thanksgiving to God.
Friends, gratitude opens the door for joy and peace to flood our hearts. This Thanksgiving, let us enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise.