Keeping God in Thanksgiving

Is keeping God in Thanksgiving possible?

And what if thanksgiving is a vital part of the Christian life all year long?

The holiday stirs up thoughts of pilgrims, turkey, and pumpkin pie.

Look at this fourth grader’s report on the first Thanksgiving when the classroom teacher requested students make no reference to God.

The pilgrims came here seeking freedom of you know what. When they landed, they gave thanks to you know who. Because of them, we can worship each Sunday you know where. (Source unknown.)

How about us? Do we make reference to God in Thanksgiving and our thankfulness? And no matter how we have to say it, like in the fourth grader’s report, we do say it, and we carry thankfulness in our heart.

Often, a sigh of relief is spoken with “Thank God!” Maybe we received good news from a medical report or found out our loved one wasn’t hurt in an accident. Wonderful things to be thankful for.

It’s not just a relief that something turned out good in the end. But thanking God, that in the end, we understand all good things come from Him.

Real Thanksgiving

Yet, thanksgiving—real thanksgiving in our heart—overflows in gratitude more than one day a year. Instead, continual thankfulness defines our lives and our character.

Thanksgiving—real thanksgiving in our heart—overflows in gratitude more than one day a year. Instead, continual thankfulness defines our lives and our character. Share on X

So we remind ourselves to give thanks for and to our great God. Because He’s a good, good Father who’s given us many blessings and gifts.

God Almighty is reason enough to give thanks and live thankful.

But what does living thankful look like? How do we go about it? 

Perhaps in part like this acrostic.

Keeping God in T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G: 

Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)

Honor the Lord with our lips and obey His commandments in our heart. (Isaiah 29:13)

Abide in Jesus as the vine for a fruitful life. (John 15)

Number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Keep the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

Satisfy our longing soul and hungry soul with good things from God. (Psalm 107:9)

Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. (Isaiah 12:4)

Increase our praise to God, for His steadfast love is better than life. (Psalm 63:3)

Value our life, and every good and perfect gift from the Father of lights. (James 1:17)

Invite others to the foot of Calvary’s cross and an empty tomb, not ashamed of the gospel. (Romans 1:16)

Name God as Lord of our life, living in righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3)

Gain godliness with contentment. (1 Timothy 6:6)

God Almighty is reason enough to give thanks and live thankful. Share on X

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

I hope you’ll join me in making thanksgiving about thankfulness to our great God this time of year and all year long. So I’d like to end with a wonderful Psalm of Thanksgiving.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100 (ESV)

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 100:4-5 (ESV) Share on X

Featured photos courtesy of Friday’s Forever on YouTube.

Last week’s post, God’s Still in Control: 22 Undeniable Truths.

Sometimes I participate in these link-ups: Let’s Have Coffee/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).

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© 2024 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved