A Thanksgiving Devotional

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Ps. 136:1

God's love is super abundant towards us! We are loved more than we can imagine. It is great cause for thankfulness!

Henry Ward Beecher said, “Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grows. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” 

Expressing thanksgiving for blessings received, as well as hardships navigated, is good for our souls. One of the sweetest things a Christian can do is sit and contemplate the goodness and greatness of God. Especially as it pertains to God orchestrating the events of our lives, in the midst of our choices and those of others, good and bad, along with many variables, bringing about His perfect plan nonetheless.

Take some time to consider God’s greatness, and then express yourself to Him. Tell Him the truth about Himself as you see it revealed in the Word of God. This kind of praising and God-glorifying action pleases God.

First, read Psalm 136. How Does God Love Us? How is God’s covenant love demonstrated? Let Us Count The Ways! 

(Literally, name as many ways that God loves us as you can, from Psalm 136, and elsewhere in the Bible.)

Next, read 1 John 4:7-12, 19. How is God’s love demonstrated specifically to believers? How does God love believers? Count the ways! (Again, literally count all the ways you can find in this passage of Scrioture, and elsewhere in the Bible.)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." (1 John 4:7-12, 19)

(Also see John 3:16-18 for more on God's love, as well as Ephesians 2:1-10, and Titus 3:4-6 for a great look at the patient lovingkindness of God.)

When you realize you are loved by God, and that you deserve hell, and everyday blessings are gravy, your pride dissipates. Your heart overflows with thankfulness to God for saving you. forgiving you, and giving you new life in Christ.

Isn’t God so merciful and kind?

"We love because he first loved us.” (1 John‬ ‭4:19‬)

How do we love God? Count the ways! Let Him know in prayer and praise!

Last, read John 13:34-35. Take that same attitude of thanksgiving to God and turn it into an opportunity to bless others. Tell someone how thankful you are for them. Thankfulness is a learned trait, and those given to complaining find it difficult. Old habits die hard but can be overcome. Rise above, repent of your sin, rejoice in Christ, and show gratitude! (Also see Romans 12:1-21 for some more hyper-practical ways to love God and others.)

How do we love others? Let us demonstrate!

Who do you thank God for? I thank God for...

Now, go and both show and tell them!

God bless you as you live in thankfulness on the daily, expressing gratitude to God and others.