It’s already November. For those who live in the US, this month we celebrate Thanksgiving. In 1863, during the height of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving to be a national holiday. It was a day set aside to “ask God to ‘commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife’ and to ‘heal the wounds of the nation.'”[1]
This year, 155 years after the proclamation of a national Thanksgiving holiday, our nation still needs to seek the Lord for the widows, orphans and the sufferers of the civil strife taking place in our nation. Our nation is wounded and is in need of healing.
Second Chronicles 7:14 says, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Over the years of life, our family has lived through various trials and tribulations–financial, health, and relationship issues. One important thing I’ve learned as a believer in my Savior Jesus Christ is to always give thanks to God in the circumstances (see 1 Thess 5:18).
Giving thanks to God did not immediately change my circumstances, but it changed how I perceived the situation. As a result, I was empowered to walk through the fiery trial and come out of it for the glory of God!
I’ve heard it taught that there are two times to give thanks to God: when you feel like it and when you don’t.
Now I leave you with 28 Scriptures to focus on the Lord and give thanks to Him. I encourage you to print this off, meditate on the Word, copy it in a journal and write down what impressions you receive from the Lord through the process
May he give you the desire of your heart & make all your plans succeed. ~Psalm 20:4
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. ~Psalm 34:1
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise give thanks to him and praise his name. ~Psalm 100:4
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~Ps 106:1
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. ~Psalm 95:2
For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. ~Psalm 95:3
…since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. ~Heb 12:28
Thank God that he gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~1 Corinthians 15:57
There is none like Thee, O Lord; Thou art great, & great is Thy name in might. ~Jeremiah 10:6
But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~Gal 6:14
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God… ~Rom 8:16
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. ~Ps 91:1
We love because He first loved us. ~1 John 4:19
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. ~Ps 73:25
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ~Prov 3:5
He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me… ~Psalm 50:23
And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. ~1 Chronicles 29:13
I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness And I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High. ~Psalm 7:17
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, & give thanks to his holy name. ~Psalm 30:4
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! ~Psalm 30:12b
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. ~Ps 69:30
Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! ~1 Chronicles 16:10
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. ~Lamentations 3:25
They remembered that God was their rock, & the Most High God their Redeemer. Ps 78:35
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful & thankful. ~Colossians 4:2
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…And be thankful. ~Colossians 3:15
Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thess 5:18
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~1 Chron 16:34
[1] https://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving