Thanksgiving is a Lifestyle, Not Just a Holiday

Thanksgiving begins with remembering who God is

Before we ever list what we’re thankful for, Scripture points us to Who we’re thankful to.

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
(Psalm 107:1)

Our gratitude doesn’t start with our stuff; it starts with the Lord’s character:

  • He is good – even when life feels confusing.

  • His steadfast love endures forever – even when we feel weak or unworthy.

As Christians, one of the most powerful things we can do around Thanksgiving is to lift our eyes from our blessings to our Blesser. When we remember who He is, gratitude flows more freely, even in seasons that feel lean or painful.

Every good gift has a return address

James reminds us that nothing truly good in our lives is accidental or self-produced.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”            (James 1:17)

Our health, our families, the food on our table, the church we attend, even the breath in our lungs—all of it is of grace. In a culture that preaches self-sufficiency and personal achievement, thanksgiving re-centers us:

  • Gratitude combats pride. It reminds us, “I have what I have because God is generous.”

  • Gratitude fights entitlement. It shifts us from “I deserve this” to “I don’t deserve this, but God has been kind.”

Thanksgiving in the midst of trouble

Some of the people will come into this season with heavy hearts—grief, financial strain, broken relationships, health issues. For them, a “Happy Thanksgiving” can feel hollow.

Scripture doesn’t ignore that tension; it speaks right into it.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
(Philippians 4:6)

Thanksgiving with prayer doesn’t cancel our pain; it re-anchors our hearts while we walk through it. We can be honest about our burdens and still choose to say, “Lord, thank You that You are with me, that You hear me, that You are at work even when I don’t see it.”

Thanksgiving as a witness to the world

In an age of complaint, fear, and outrage, a thankful Christian stands out.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful…And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,                                        giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”                                                          (Colossians 3:15, 17)

A grateful church becomes a powerful testimony:

  • Grateful people speak differently – less gossip, more encouragement.

  • Grateful people live differently – less hoarding, more generosity.

  • Grateful people suffer differently – less despair, more hope.

Our thanksgiving points beyond our circumstances to the One who holds our circumstances.

A “Thanksgiving Psalm” list

Let me encourage you to meditate on a few gratitude-focused passages this week, such as:

  • Psalm 100

  • Psalm 103:1–5

  • Psalm 107

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

  • Colossians 3:15–17

 

The greatest reason for thanksgiving: the Gospel

Above every temporal blessing stands the eternal blessing:

“Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!”
(2 Corinthians 9:15)

Jesus Himself is the Father’s greatest gift to us:

  • Our sins are forgiven.

  • Our shame is covered.

  • Our eternity is secure.

  • We have the Holy Spirit living within us.

Even if every earthly comfort were stripped away, the believer in Christ still has more reason for gratitude than the world could ever imagine.

 

Prayer for Thanksgiving:

Father, we thank You for who You are—good, faithful, and unchanging...

Father,
We come to You in this season of Thanksgiving, not just to say “thank You” for what is on our tables, but for Who You are—good, faithful, and unchanging.

Thank You for every good and perfect gift You’ve placed in our lives: for salvation through Jesus, for the presence of Your Spirit, for the family of God, and for the daily mercies we so often overlook.

Teach us to give thanks in all circumstances, not because every circumstance is good, but because You are.

Use our gratitude as a light in a grumbling world. Let our churches be known as places filled with truth, worship, contentment, and joy in Christ.

And when this holiday passes, help us to live as people of thanksgiving every day of the year.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Creekside Community Church