Give Thanks to the Lord -Psalm 107:1

There are many examples of thanksgiving in the Bible. And each one shows us how to give thanks to the Lord.

During this Thanksgiving holiday, we’ll gather with the people closest to us around a table of glorious, delicious food. We’ll tell stories about the past and share memories of everything that has happened in our lives this past year.

But it’s equally important to give thanks to the Lord and remember His loving kindness during this special time. God is good and He gives us so much to be thankful for.

So, in this devotion, we’ll look at some Bible verses about how to give thanks to the Lord with a grateful heart.

Let’s start with one of my favorite thanksgiving scriptures, Psalm 107:1…

What does Psalm 107:1 mean?

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1 NIV

A few years ago, I was sitting in a lady’s Bible study when a young woman shared something that changed my life.

She recited a quote you’ve probably heard before…

“What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?”

I thought about this quote for several days and decided I needed to start thanking God for everything I have today.

It’s easy for me to dream about tomorrow or get caught up in all of the things I wish I had.

But God is good to me right now and I need to show my gratitude for all He does in my life every day, not just one day a year.

Because a little bit of thankfulness goes a long way.

Imagine if you did everything for someone and they never once said thank you.

It wouldn’t make for a lasting relationship. Over time you would lose interest in helping them and then you’d distance yourself from them too.

Thankfully, God isn’t like this.

And that’s what this verse from Psalm 107:1 is about.

The meaning of the phrase “his love endures forever” translates to “a loyal love”.

This is the kind of love God has for us. He is always loyal. And because He is, no matter how we act, He always loves us and promises to care for our needs.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and all He does for us every day.

What are we thankful for?

After pondering this quote, I began thanking God each night for the things He gives me today that I don’t want to live without tomorrow.

Here’s a list of some of the things I give thanks to the Lord for each day…

#1 Salvation

Where would I be if I didn’t have salvation in Jesus Christ?

I would be lost and condemned. So, salvation is definitely at the top of my list of things I can’t live without. And it’s the one thing I’m most grateful for.

#2 My Family

Every day I pray for God to take care of my family. I’m sure you do the same for yours too.

I always mentioned them in my prayers before and asked God to take care of their individual needs.

But now I simply say thank you to God for their presence in my life

This has made a big difference in my relationship with my family. I see them in a different light and recognize how thankful I am for each of them and the unique qualities they bring into my life.

#3 My home, food, car, clothes, etc.

Food, shelter, and water, are the necessities of life. And I certainly don’t want to live without any of them.

Especially food! Who wants to go hungry?

With the bounty of Thanksgiving, this basic of daily life may be overlooked, for so many, it’s an everyday struggle.

God has always been faithful to provide for my family. We may not be millionaires, and we may not have everything we want. But God has always made sure we have what we need. And I am very thankful for His generosity!

#4 My Country

What a privilege it is to live in a country where I am free to worship God! I am so grateful for the opportunity to live in a nation where I can express my views and practice my religion without fear.

#5 Answered Prayers

Like everyone, I ask God to do certain things for me. And then when He does them, I conveniently forget He has just answered my prayer.

So, I’ve started thanking Him in the moment for each answered prayer.

But I also want to remember in my nightly prayers, to say thank you again because I am truly grateful He has heard my cry for help and cared enough to answer.

There are usually a few other things that happen throughout the day I give thanks for. But this list represents the things I don’t want to live without the next day.

Learning to give thanks to the Lord has had a huge impact on my life and my relationship with Jesus. Because of the simple act of saying thank you, my prayer life has grown and my attitude has changed.

So, How do you give thanks to God?

In answering this question, two scriptures come to mind. In each one, we learn a different, but equally important aspect of how to give thanks to God.

In everything Give Thanks

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

As we gather around the Thanksgiving table, we’ll talk about all of the wonderful things that have happened over the past year.

And we should be thankful for them. God has done so much for us!

But this verse is about being grateful in all things, both good and bad.

Why?

Because in Romans 8:28 we learn… all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

God has the power to turn something we see as bad into something amazing. He causes all things to come together in the end for our good.

This is the hand of God intervening in our life when we least expect it. And With His touch, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, God can bring good into what seems like a terrible situation.

So, if you’ve suffered a loss this past year, remember… in everything give thanks. And know even in the bad, God’s will in Christ Jesus brings glory and honor to Him.

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1 NIV

To truly give thanks to the Lord, it needs to come from the heart. Not just a little bit of our heart, but all it.

The lyrics of the great song Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart say…

Give thanks because He’s given
Jesus Christ, His Son…

This is the greatest gift we could ever receive. And a heart full of praise for the gift of God’s Son is the greatest gift we can give back to God for this sacrifice.

When we tell of this wonderful deed, we are giving thanks with a grateful heart just like the song and this scripture tell us to do.

What are the 3 things you are thankful for this Thanksgiving?

This November, instead of focusing on what I don’t have, I choose to focus on what God has blessed me with already.

That gratitude has changed my way of thinking and my outlook on life. God is good. His love endures forever. And learning to give thanks for His loyal, unfailing love has made me feel closer to God in so many ways.

After reading the list of things I’m thankful for, I’m sure you have some thoughts of your own. And I encourage you to write a list of at least 3 things you are thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I hope it will help you in some small way to grow your relationship with Jesus.

My prayer for you today is that you will see all the wonderful things God is doing in your life right now, give thanks to Him, and be blessed with a grateful heart.

May God bless you greatly as you give thanks to the Lord!

And if you would like to leave your list of the 3 things you’re thankful for in the comments, I would love to know what God is doing in your life. Plus, I promise to answer back. 😊

Happy Thanksgiving!