Thanksgiving is just a few days away and so I’ve been thinking about gratitude a lot lately. What is it? When should we show it? What does God say about it?
Just last week I learned that the Hebrew word for gratitude means “to recognize the good.” I love that! don’t you?
Paul wrote the Thessalonians, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Most read that verse and think it rather nice. So we slap a sloppy coat of thanksgiving on life and go about our day. In reality, many are thankful for very little.
Notice the Bible doesn’t command us to feel thankful in all circumstances. Instead it commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” When I begin to praise God in a difficult situation, even if I don’t feel like it, many times the scales fall from my eyes and I begin to see glimpses of His glory sprinkled on the black backdrop of the situation like diamonds on black velvet.
Sometimes I don’t see glory in tragedy, but I still can praise God because I know He is there.
Gratitude changes the lens through which we see the circumstances in our little slice of time. Thanksgiving changes our perspective despite broken dreams, broken relationships, tumultuous circumstances, and unfulfilled longings.
As you praise God for who He is and thank Him for what He’s done, your perspective of Him grows larger and your problems grow smaller. As a result, you will experience a deeper sense of intimacy with God as the emotional gap between what you know to be true and how you feel at the moment closes.
On many occasions in the Psalms, David complained about his circumstances (Psalms 42; 57; 62). But more often than not, about midway through David’s laments, he begins praising God for who He is and thanking God for what He’s done. And you know what happens? All of a sudden David starts feeling better! Life isn’t so bad after all! His problems grow smaller as his perspective of God grows larger, and he begins to see God’s glory shining through the situation.
Why is that? In the writing of one little Psalm, David shifted from depression to rejoicing. He didn’t wait until God changed his situation, solved his problem, or made him feel better before he began thanking Him.
Oh friend, when we stop complaining and grumbling and begin speaking God’s love language of gratitude, our perspective will change as well. We will begin seeing moments of sudden glory through the lens of praise and thanksgiving—glory moments that were there all along, but hidden from the grumbling eye.
So this week, as we’re cooking the turkey, setting the extra place at the table, or even cleaning the baseboards for company, let’s practice gratitude! Let ‘s look for and recognize the good! It will put a skip in our steps and a song in our hearts!
Dear Lord, I praise Your name. I exalt Your name forever. Even though I may not understand what is going on in my life, I trust that You are good and Your plans are good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Just for fun. What is your favorite thing about Thanksgiving? Leave a comment and let’s share.
Comments 44
The gathering of family and friends…time spent together!
The food, fun, and fellowship.
My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is being with my family and doing things together whether it is cooking, baking, or playing a game. Having the time to be together in our busy world when we would typically be working.
Morning Sharon
I think my favorite time of thanksgiving is when the grown children and the grands get here. I have them from ages 52-3. What a mixture. Just the laughter and loudness makes my heart happy. I hear everything from hunting stories to fighting over a toy truck.
And then as some are packing to-go plates and we are saying our goodbyes that’s when I realize how God blessed me with some of the most amazing family that a person could ever dream of having.
Have a safe and blessed holiday.
Thanks, Sheila. I agree. Thanks be to our God!
I Love when our family can gather together for the Holiday. Also I like to Praise God and Give God thanks and the first time this year, Im acknowledging and giving God Thanks for something “I’m thankful for” different in my life every day for the entire month of November and posting it on my Social media page along with a supporting Scripture on Praise and Thankfulness.
I will be transferring all my daily posts on what I’m Thankful for, into my Journal!
Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving everyone !🍂
Spending time with my husband, daughter, son and his wife( my 2nd daughter). We each say 1 thing we’re thankful for around our table. Cooking(food) is one of my love languages and I love doing it! Thanksgiving gives us a chance to just exhale and remember His blessings..big and small.🙏🏼❣️
My Favorite thing about Thanksgiving is remembering all the things I have to be grateful to God for. Also, I like trying to beat my niece to the turkey wings from the turkey. That is both our favorite part of the turkey because we love dark meat. Wishing & praying that all having a Blessed & Joyous Thanksgiving! 😊🙏🏾🫶🏽
Having all the family together.
Having food and shelter. God gave us another year to celebrate his grace
We are trying to navigate our first Holiday season since our son has severed his relationship with us. He is in a toxic relationship and we have not heard from him since Dec. 26 of last year. He will not answer calls or messages. This Thanksgiving will be a tough one– our first without him in 26 years.
Dearest Cathy, my heart goes out to you! Our son cut us off along with his wife and three granddaughters for three years. Don’t give up praying! 🙏 God is at work. We know have an amazing relationship and those three little girls are all adults now. My son and daughter-in-law added three more kiddos to the bunch. I am praying for you, Cathy! 🙏🥰
praying for you Cathy
Hugs to you and your family, Cathy, as you thank God for His good plans for you and your son❤️❤️
Jeremiah 29:11
Cathy,
I understand the separation of family. I am grieved because of it. I have chosen to remember God’s faithfulness and thank Him for everything including our family who chooses to go somewhere else. I’m grateful for the health of my family, for their independence, and for their lives that are full! Holidays are difficult. Prayers for God’s peace to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Cathy
I’m praying for you. This very same thing has happened in our family. But it’s been 6 years. Our son has even did his two children the same way. They are 21 and 18 now. We can none understand it but still pray everyday that it will change. I know Hod hears our cry’s. I am still so blessed and have so much to be thankful for.
Blessings on you. I have a similar situation and am simply thanking God for His sovereignty, knowing this isn’t over yet.
The warmth of having family together. It reminds me of all the Thanksgivings I have shared with family no longer here,but warm happy thoughts.
My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is my personal prayer hour breakfast and memorable discuss time with family and friends.
Psalm 107:1-“O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good.”
Gathering with my family. Looking at their smiles and reflecting on how God has blessed us all. Grateful for each of them being in my life.
Family
Family and friends coming together in my home.
My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is having my family all together in one place. We will be missing a grandchild and family this year but there will still be a lot of us. The laughing, sharing and noise are what make it so special. This has been a challenging year for my husband and me so it will be good to have our loved ones around. Instead of me doing all the cooking, everybody is bringing a dish to share. I’m so thankful for my family! Happy Thanksgiving Sharon, to you and your followers 😊
When I was little a little girl, our families would get together and play cards and make a make a fire in the fireplace. We did pray before we dug into the food! I can hear and feel those memories as I write this.🙏🥲
Being with family.
My favorite thing is family and church family gathering together to discuss what we are thankful for and ways to show our gratitude to each other. Beyond that, pumpkin bread.
One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is seeing generations together. There’s something right and good about that — good for the soul.
My favorite thing about Thanksgiving – other than my sister’s sweet potato casserole which is the best- is the noise. I usually host, and we have 20-30 people come. I love the laughter, the yelling, the conversations. I love that we combine families – mine and my husband’s. My nephew often invites friends who may not have anywhere to go. So I think it is the chaos – it is the gathering of people. This year will look different because a tree fell through my house during Hurricane Francine, but we will still gather. Happy Thanksgiving!
His name is Jesus!!!! How thankful that He loved us enough to die for us. Thank you Jesus!!!!
I love Thanksgiving because it’s a time spent with family and friends without a lot of hustle and bustle, with lots of good food. Good food and good company. It has always been my favorite holiday, as an adult. What child doesn’t love Christmas?! Happy Thanksgiving friends!
Having my daughters, son in laws, grandkids and my ex-husband under one roof at my house. It brings me much joy knowing that we can all celebrate ang give thanks as one, even though we are divorced.
God has shown me gratitude out of a bad situation. Therfore I am thankful for all God has given me.
The only agenda on Thanksgiving is giving thanks! Pure and simple. I love the focus. Thanks to you all for sharing your insights. Have a grateful day!
Thanksgiving to me is the gathering of my family sharing a wonderful meal and enjoying each other with laughter and conversation( in person) watching football, playing games with the grandkids, and thanking God for His bountiful blessings He has bestowed on us all despite the many trials we have all all experienced.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! God Bless
Five years ago my mother died unexpectedly Thanksgiving week. We use to make breads together. Now, one of my favorite traditions is to read the hand written recipe she gave me of her zucchini and banana bread. I LOVE to make the breads with my children and share the bread as a gift.
For the past 13 years I have posted something on social media each day of November for which I am thankful. (you know, rather than posting the negative thoughts), calling my posts “A Month of Thanksgiving”. When I first began this tradition I thought, “how hard can it be to come up with something each day for which I am thankful?”. Some days it is easy; some days, not so easy. But I ALWAYS find something for which to be thankful!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it reminds me of all the things God does for us every day. I also love spending time with family because I don’t get to do that often enough. Let’s all be thankful and pray for unity in our country. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
i am grateful for my family here, family back home, and my family at work and church.
With everything i have been through, i am the one who is blessed.
In February of 2021 my oldest daughter died in her sleep from a heart attack. Then in April of 2021 my husband died after a 6 year battle with kidney disease. Thanksgiving was the first “big” holiday without them. We gathered around the table, gave thanks for each other and the food. Our hearts had empty spaces, but we decided the best way to honor those two was to keep living and loving. I am thankful for family and friends who have been by my side. Holidays are still hard, but I know I am blessed.
I am Thankful for my family, always try to go to each kids house for Thanksgiving. It will be the first year without my husband but my son and his family always make me feel soooo loved and I am thankful I will be with their family. I am thankful for my neighbors who have been such a help this last few months in all the hardship I have gone through. God is good. Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful no matter what we are going through, God is with us!
Thank you, Sharon, for the reminder of being Thankful. I try to remind myself when going through difficult times, that I have so much to be thankful for. I have a home, my health, my family and I am able to help others in need.
I love to get together with both my husband and my family for the holidays. My husband’s grandmother is 96 years old and still as sharp as a pin. I love to hear family history and how things have changed or stayed the same. God has truly blessed all of us.
My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is spending time with family and friends. Yet, I have realized that everyday is “Thanksgiving.” I’m thankful for all of God’s blessings! I’m thankful for God being in my life!
There are a lot of things to thank God for despite the multitude of challenges.
But the most significant thing is life and salvation..
Thank you LORD,you are everything to me.
Appreciate your message.
Thankful for another day. Thankful for My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For my daughters and the love they share with me.
My favorite thing is about Thanksgiving is preparing for it with my family… The Group FaceTime with my daughters to set the date, create the menu, come in a day or two early to shop, prep, giggle, laugh, chase little ones, cook and bake, clean the house, set the table, load up all the countertops with enough food to feed and army, then watch them come through the door, family by family, arms laden with more food, babies, giving a helping hand to those using walkers. Finding their places around the tables, on the sofas or on the floor, and bowing heads and hearts — together as a family — to give thanks to the One who made it all possible.