What is a Heart of Thanksgiving?

As November arrives, it brings with it a season of reflection.  In a time when the trees display glorious colors, the days grow shorter, and the weather becomes colder, let us take a moment to prepare our hearts for the cherished tradition of Thanksgiving.

For most people, Thanksgiving is a day of family and friends gathering to share good food and conversation.  It’s a day to pause in our fast-paced lives–especially right before the Christmas holiday season begins.  

However, for Christians, this holiday should be so much more.  It should serve to nurture an attitude of profound gratitude that finds its ultimate expression in a heart turned toward God — the giver of all good things.

The Bible is clear in its directive to give thanks. It is not a mere suggestion or a polite courtesy, but a foundational act of worship and relationship. 

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. (1 Chronicles 16:8)

This directive is born of joy. It is an invitation to enter into the very presence of God with a spirit of thankfulness.  The Psalmist paints a vivid picture of this approach, writing, 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (Psalm 100:4)

Gratitude is the key that unlocks the gates, the password that grants us entry into a more intimate fellowship with our Creator. It is the beginning of worship.

Our Greatest Gift

When we consider God’s blessings, our thankfulness must begin with the most significant and gracious gift of all: salvation. 

…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)  

Jesus died so we can live, and in Him we are eternally secure.  There is no greater gift than new life in Christ.  This is why the Apostle Paul exclaimed, 

..thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57) 

We are on the winning team, not because of our merit, but because of Jesus.  On the cross, He paid for our sins and conquered death, opening the way to the Father for all who believe. This should ignite in us a thankfulness so profound that it cannot be contained.

Gratitude Shared

This gratitude is not meant to be a private, silent affair. It is a story that demands to be told. The psalmist declares, 

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. (Psalm 18:49)

When we are truly grateful for our salvation, we cannot help but “make known his deeds among the people.” It should be our desire to share the hope we have in Christ.  Jesus commissioned us to do so. Therefore, we should proclaim the Lord “with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all [His] wondrous works.” (Psalm 26:7)

Praising God and telling of His works is testimony to His goodness and grace that we are called to pass on to the next generation:  

We will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations. (Psalm 79:13)

The Condition of the Heart

The Bible warns sternly against the spiritual decay that accompanies an ungrateful heart. In his letter to the Romans, Paul outlines the downward spiral of a society that turns away from God, and notes that it begins with a failure to give thanks. 

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21)

An attitude of entitlement and a refusal to acknowledge God as the source of all good things leads to foolishness and spiritual darkness. Thanksgiving, therefore, is important in our relationship with God because it keeps our hearts devoted to Him and minds focused on Him, which will ultimately guide the direction of our lives. 

This is perhaps most radically expressed in the call to give thanks in all circumstances:

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

In this verse, Paul does not ask us to be thankful for every circumstance, as some circumstances are tragic and painful. Rather, Paul commands us to be thankful in every circumstance, knowing that even in our darkest moments and most difficult times, God is with us. His purposes are for our good and His glory, and our ultimate victory in Christ is secure. Giving thanks in all things is a profound expression of faith, a declaration that our gratitude is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in the unchanging character of our God.

Gratitude Overflowing

Our thankfulness should ultimately overflow into our words and actions. Jesus Himself modeled this when He “took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples” (Mark 8:6). Before the miracle, He gave thanks.  Our own lives should follow this pattern. 

Take time to give thanks, to remember God’s goodness and grace.  As the writer of Hebrews exhorts, 

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)

Our words have power, and when they are filled with praise and thanksgiving, they become a beautiful offering to God and a powerful testimony to the world.

As you prepare for Thanksgiving festivities, prepare your heart also.  Consider all that God has done for you and all that He has given to you — and respond in gratitude.  Cultivate a deep, abiding thankfulness by remembering the love of God, the victory you have in Jesus, and the honor and privilege you have been given to share His love and saving grace with all people.  

May your life be a continuous offering of praise, and may you receive the blessing spoken over Israel:

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make His face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
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