A Thanksgiving Prayer

This year, due to Terri’s sister passing, I’ve probably thought more about Thanksgiving (the holiday) and what it means to give thanks as an act of worship rather than simply being thankful. I’ve created a prayer of my own to share what I’ve gleaned from my time with the Lord as I’ve meditated on the idea of thanksgiving.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

We stand before You with hearts full of gratitude and humility, acknowledging the countless blessings that You have bestowed upon us. In a world where so many concepts get twisted and turned away from Your truth, we seek clarity and sincerity in our thanksgiving.

Lord, we recognize there is a profound difference between simply feeling thankful and worshipfully giving thanks. While feeling thankful reflects our personal emotions, giving thanks is an intentional act of worship, a deliberate turning of our hearts and voices towards You in recognition of Your grace and provision. It’s not about us; it’s about You. As Your Word reminds us, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” (1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT).

In this moment, we choose to give thanks, to offer our praises not just in comfortable times, but in every circumstance, understanding that even trials help shape us into the likeness of Christ. Give us more of You, Lord. Give us more. More of You, less of me.

May our gratitude transcend fleeting emotions and become a constant song of praise, acknowledging that You are sovereign and that You are good. You are good, Lord; You ARE good!

Empower us, sweet Lord, to see beyond the world’s distortions and help us recognize that You are the source of all good things. Everything that is good flows from You. Everything. May our lives reflect a continuous gratitude that honors You, standing as beacons of Your truth in a world that far too often dismisses it.

We ask all this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to live lives full of grace and thankfulness. Amen.

Friends, I pray your Thanksgiving is all that it could be and should be.