Give Thanks on Thanksgiving Day and Everyday

I love to give thanks every day as well as celebrate special Thanksgiving days.

Traditionally, Thanksgiving Day includes prayers, festivals, and feasts.

It’s fun to gather with family and friends, enjoy festivities, and eat turkey and pumpkin or sweet potato pie. (Nobody makes pumpkin pie better than my daughter-in-law.)

Let’s be honest, though. We make this holiday all about us—we eat way too much and spend little time giving thanks. (When I was a kid, we went around the table, and each quoted a Bible verse. Saying “Jesus wept” does not give thanks by any measure. It’s more like, “Hurry up and pass the mashed potatoes and gravy, please.”)

Listen, I’m not trying to rain on your turkey parade. But why don’t you use this special day as a starting point for a new spiritually blessed habit? How about committing to a daily practice of gratitude?

So, here are four overarching reasons to give thanks every day:

To Give Thanks in Everything is the Will of God

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” ~1 Thess 5:18

God Loads us Daily with Benefits

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah” ~ Ps 68:19

The Lord “forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases.” ~ Ps 103:3

He “redeems your life from destruction.” ~Ps 103:4

He “crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” ~ Ps. 103:4

The Lord “satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” ~ Ps 103:5

He “executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” ~ Ps 103:6

Give Thanks for God’s Mercy and Grace

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” ~ Ps 103:8

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.” ~ Ps 103:11

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” ~ Heb 4:16

God is Faithful Every Day

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.” ~ Ps 63:3

“To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night,” ~ Ps 92:2

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I give thanks daily for God’s lovingkindness, goodness, mercy, redemption, and forgiveness of sins. I also thank God for family, friends, freedom, health, safety, joy, inner peace, a nation turning back to God, and hope for the future. And I pray daily for our country and its new leaders.

How about you? Feel free to leave your comments.