“Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
The Bible tells us to give thanks in all seasons. It’s a year-round, every-day opportunity. We should not wait until Thanksgiving Day or the month of November to be grateful, but we can leverage this season to increase the gratitude we feel, cultivate the habit of thanksgiving, and deepen our awareness of all the reasons to praise and thank God.
It’s a great season for churches, families, and individuals to lean into giving thanks to God together. Like so many things, there is a shared joy that doubles our own joy when we do things with others, and thanksgiving is no different. As we practice giving thanks in our churches and homes, we are encouraged by how God is at work in the lives of those around us and we are reminded of the many reasons to thank God based on who He is and what He does.
As I’ve read about, studied, wrote on, and practiced the spiritual habit of thanksgiving over the last decade, here are a few resources to help you grow in gratitude.
THE BIBLE
The place to start with thinking about thanking God and then practicing it your everyday life is the Bible. The Bible is full of exhortations to give thanks, examples of what it looks like, reasons to thank God, and various expressions of thanksgiving. It identifies the sources of our ingratitude and grumbling as it shifts us to replace these things with grateful worship. As we read Scripture, it puts before us who God is, what He’s done for us, who we are in Christ, the promises that belong to us, and what God is doing for us right now. Read the Bible to see how the Bible is full of people giving thanks (even in trials and sorrows) and to better know God and find endless reasons you can thank Him.
If you’re looking for a place to start, try the psalms. Read a psalm a day and then give thanks to God in light of who He is in that psalm or how the psalmist praises, trusts, or turns to God.
Or if you’re looking for a reading plan, here’s a seven-day thanksgiving reading plan on YouVersion, and here’s a thirty-day gratitude challenge reading plan.
JOURNAL
After the Bible, the next best thing to help you grow in gratitude is simply a pen and paper. If you like to use journals that’s great, or you can use something like a Google Doc or your Notes app on your phone. The point is that you can’t strengthen your gratitude muscles apart from the practice of thanksgiving, and part of the practice is creating a habit of writing down specific reasons to thank God. It might be an attribute of God, something you’re learning about God, an answered prayer, a meaningful person or an encouraging conversation, or a blessing of some sort in life. But start writing down each day five things you can thank God for and then do it daily for a month. This will not only help you cultivate the habit, but it will cause you to start living on the lookout for how God is at work or for all the good things He’s given to you.
BOOKS FOR ADULTS
It’s also a great time to read a book on thanksgiving. Part of why we read books is to help us think about a topic, both for a longer extent of time (for however long you read a book) and at a greater level of depth. To consider the benefits of gratitude, the biblical exhortations and encouragements toward gratitude, and the practical ways to grow in gratitude, read a book on it.
That’s why I wrote a book for adults on the topic. My hope was to synthesize some of the Bible’s teaching on gratitude and thanksgiving while also giving practical suggestions and tools for implementing in your own life. Yes, it’s self-promoting, but if you want a book to help you grow in gratitude and fight grumbling, then read The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks: Reclaiming the Gifts of a Lost Spiritual Discipline.
If you want a fiction book, I’ve not come across a better book that embodies what a grateful life looks like in a fictional character than Wendell Berry’s Hannah Coulter.
BOOKS FOR KIDS
If you have younger children, this is a great season to be intentional with them about understanding the role of thanksgiving in the Christian life and practicing thanksgiving together as a family. Make this an annual tradition around your home by leaning being thankful to God in the season that leads up to Thanksgiving Day.
Here’s an article with several suggestions on how to do that in fun and memorable ways. Our family has done a thanksgiving tree most years. It’s very simple, cheap, and has a visual reminder to keep gratitude in front of everyone while it’s standing.
One thing parents can do is read good books with their kids. There are a lot of books on thankfulness, gratitude, and even books that connect to the holiday of Thanksgiving. I’ve searched them out in recent years and read dozens of them, both “secular” and “Christian.” Here are my favorite books on thanksgiving to read with younger kids.
Manny and the Garden of Gratitude, written by Michael Emlet and illustrated by Joe Hox
Why Do We Say Thank You?: Learning to be Grateful, written by Champ Thornton and illustrated by Brad Woodard
Give Thanks to the Lord, written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Amy June Bates
If you ever have questions or want more resources on gratitude or giving thanks, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email. I’d love to do anything I can to help you take one step in better knowing and enjoying God through thanksgiving.
