A prayer of gratitude for God’s abundant provision
Written by Lynette Kittle
Bible reading:
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Listen or read below:
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday where Americans celebrate Pilgrims and Native Americans preparing, gathering, and sharing a rich feast. This day is set aside for our nation to give thanks to God.
It is also an annual reminder of the faith of our founders. But sadly, many people forget that the real focus of Thanksgiving is giving thanks to God.
Here are four ways to focus on gratitude for God’s abundant provision.
1. Thank God first and foremost.
Thanksgiving is a vow to give thanks to God first and foremost, as 1 Thessalonians 5:18 invites us to do.
Like the Pilgrims and Native Americans, our gratitude is not conditional or based on what we have experienced during the year, but rather a determination to be grateful to God and to trust Him regardless of our current circumstances, whether we are struggling or living comfortably in life’s circumstances.
2. Remember and thank God
The pilgrims focused on remembering and thanking God for His faithfulness and protection towards them. Just as Psalm 77:11 declares, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yea, I will remember your miracles of old.” We can also include remembrance on Thanksgiving Day.
Even when we are going through difficult times, we can remember all that God has done and has done in our lives, starting with our salvation through Jesus Christ, to providing for our heart’s desires, and meeting our daily needs.
“Remember the things of old, and the things of old. I am God, and there is none like me; I am God, and there is none like me; I am from the beginning, from old times, and I will announce the end of things that are to come. I say, ‘My purpose endures, and I do all that I will’ (Isaiah 46:9-10).”
3. Praise God and Thank Him
We can thank God by praising God with one another, as Ephesians 5:19-20 urges, “Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Gratitude is closely related to praising God. As Psalm 100:4 says, through our words, actions, songs, and musical performances, we can “enter into the gates of God with thanksgiving, and into the courts of God with praise, giving thanks to God and praising his name.”
Praise is often expressed through song, as Psalm 147:1 encourages. “Let us praise the Lord! How wonderful it is to praise our God! How joyful and fitting it is to praise God!”
Our praise can also be expressed through the way we live. By the words we speak and the way we treat those around us. We can practice it in a spirit of gratitude for all that God has done for us and a willingness to serve others.
4. Thank God through sacrifice
Sacrifice pleases God, and when we praise God in times of trouble, He accepts it as a sacrifice that pleases Him. As Hebrews 13:16 reminds us, “Do good and remember to share with others, for it pleases God with such sacrifices.”
Additionally, sacrificial praise occurs when we rise above our disappointments and losses to praise God, as Psalm 116:17 urges, “I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the name of the Lord.”
Let’s pray:
Dear father,
On Thanksgiving Day, we thank you first and foremost for your goodness, your faithfulness, and your salvation.
We also thank you by remembering all that you have done for us through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for sending God into this world and giving up his life so that we could live.
Help us to glorify Your name whenever we can and to those around us through our words, songs, music, actions, and service to others.
We thank You by offering to You a sacrifice of praise with our mouths and by sharing with those around us what we have been given. Despite our current circumstances, losses and disappointments, we praise you. Because you, and you alone, are worthy of our praise.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen.
Join the conversation! Please share how today’s devotional spoke to you in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©Getty/Drazen Zigic
Lynette Kittle is married and has four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her work has been published in Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and elsewhere. She holds a master’s degree in communications from Regent University and is an associate producer at Soul Check TV.
Listen to Greg Rory’s new show!
Everyone talks about life after death, but what about life before death? Do you wonder, “Why am I here?” How can I be truly happy? Does my life matter? Or why do I feel empty inside? ” and “What really happens when we die?” Pastor Greg Laurie has helped millions of people find deep hope through true faith. On “The Greg Rory Show,” he candidly shares his journey from despair, addiction, and abuse to a spiritual revolution that changed everything. Drawing on decades of impactful ministry, Greg tackles life’s deepest questions and offers timeless biblical wisdom, practical guidance, and a compelling vision for lives radically transformed by Christ. Pastor Greg empowers listeners to navigate today’s cultural challenges, uncover spiritual truths, and discover lasting joy and meaning in their relationship with God.
Now that you’ve prayed, do you need someone to pray for you? Click the button below
