On Giving Thanks

Since Thanksgiving occurs this week in the USA, I thought it appropriate to look at what the Word of God says on the subject of thankfulness and thanksgiving. According to Leviticus 22:19, sacrifices of thanksgiving are to be brought to Yehovah of our own free will. Let’s make this week about bringing thankfulness to our Savior, daily, freely, and from the heart. (Let’s make every day about this!)

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And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD (Yehovah), offer it of your own free will.
Leviticus 22:19 NKJV

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Psalm 100:4 NKJV

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.
Psalm 107:22 KJV

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD (Yehovah).
Psalm 116:17 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God
Philippians 4:6 NKJV

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
Colossians 4:2 NKJV

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Revelation 7:12 NKJV

Oh, give thanks to the LORD (Yehovah)! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!
1 Chronicles 16:8 NKJV

Oh, give thanks to the LORD (Yehovah), for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 105:1 NKJV

So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth Your praise to all generations.
Psalm 79:13 NKJV

It is good to give thanks to the LORD (Yehovah), and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High
Psalm 92:1

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD (Yehovah) for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalm 107:8

Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.
Psalm 140:13

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

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20 NKJV

Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 NKJV

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:17 NKJV

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

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15 NKJV

We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
Revelation 11:17 NKJV

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These verses just scratch the surface of the subject of thanksgiving in the Bible. They give us the who, what, where, when, why and how of being thankful to our Maker. In light of this, is it any wonder that the Pilgrims who came to America and survived many obstacles during those early days, began the practice of setting aside a day for Thanksgiving to God Almighty? We, the generations who follow in their footsteps, continue this practice, so that the generations that follow us will also give thanks to God, always and in all things.

If you are from a country that does not have a formal Thanksgiving holiday or if you don’t already have a regular practice of giving thanks to God, this week is a perfect time to begin! Happy Thanksgiving!

Your Turn

What are you thankful for this year? Be specific as you recount your blessings before God. Take a minute to share what you are most thankful for in the comments below.

What is your favorite verse on thankfulness? Share it in the comments.

Remember that we are to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving to God of our own free will.

Prayer

Father, we give You thanks for all You have done for us through Your Son, Jesus. We stand justified in Your presence, because of the free gift of grace made possible through our Messiah. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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By the way, one of the things that I am most thankful for this year is you—our readers and followers of OnScripture. You have blessed Lisa and me beyond measure! We give thanks for you and pray that you are especially blessed during this holiday season!

In Him and for Him,
Gina

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Featured image via Canva.