Thankful, Grateful, Blessed
Dear Friends,
As we approach the “most wonderful time of the year,” when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, let us begin the season with thanksgiving and joyful praise. This Thanksgiving may we pause to remember how richly God has blessed us in every way. May our hearts overflow with gratitude and love for our Lord Jesus Christ, whose goodness sustains us through every season. David writes in Psalm 103:2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits...
Thanksgiving is transformational; it deepens our relationship with God. When we give thanks, we draw near to God Himself. A grateful and thankful heart becomes a vessel for God’s presence. The more we thank Him, the more we become aware of His nearness and love. Gratitude transforms ordinary moments into sacred encounters.
Thanksgiving is the heartbeat of true worship. From Genesis to Revelation, thanksgiving is woven into the fabric of a faithful life. It reorients our hearts toward God, reminding us that every blessing, every breath, every victory, and even every trial has passed through His loving hands.
When we give thanks, we are not ignoring pain or pretending everything is perfect. We are proclaiming that God is greater — greater than the difficulty, greater than the delay, and greater than the disappointment. Thanksgiving shifts our focus from what is missing to Who is present!
The Apostle Paul, who wrote letters of thanksgiving from a prison cell, profoundly understood this. In Philippians 4:6–7, he urged believers:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present
your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Thanksgiving, Paul says, is the bridge between anxiety and peace. When we give thanks, even before the answer comes, we open our hearts to God’s presence — and His peace begins to guard us. Every time we say, “thank You, Lord” we honor God, as we are acknowledging that He is the source of every good thing!
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift comes from above…
Thanksgiving glorifies the Lord because it recognizes that His hand is at work in our lives. It’s an act of humility — a sincere confession that we are thoroughly dependent upon His grace.
As we look back with thankful hearts for all God has done, our faith is strengthened to trust Him for what lies ahead. Gratitude becomes a sacred memory—a testimony that fills us with fresh confidence in His faithfulness for the days to come. David remembered the lion and the bear before he faced Goliath. His gratitude for past victories gave him courage for the next battle. Let us always remember the goodness, lovingkindness and faithfulness of our God!
A thankful heart disarms fear and anxiety. It fills our soul with contentment and joy!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in
Christ Jesus.
Notice that Paul ties joy, prayer, and thanksgiving together — because they are inseparable. A thankful heart cannot stay heavy for long. Gratitude lifts the soul into praise.
Psalm 100 teaches us that thanksgiving is not just a good attitude of the heart, it’s also a spiritual entrance:
Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
Approaching the Lord with thanksgiving is the key that unlocks His presence and ushers us into worship. An ungrateful heart closes doors, but a thankful heart opens them. When we nurture a thankful heart, we begin to recognize God’s goodness all around us — in everyday mercies, simple blessings, and even in the unanswered prayers that lovingly guide us toward something greater. Thanksgiving doesn’t just change what we have; it changes our view of what we have!
Thanksgiving is more than a feeling. It’s a spiritual discipline and a resounding declaration of trust and faith in Jesus Christ! It keeps us grounded in God’s goodness and guards our hearts with His peace. A life marked by gratitude reflects the very heart of heaven. As we walk in thankfulness, we become living witnesses to the truth that the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever. Praise the Lord!
May you all be filled with the Lord’s peace, joy, and richest blessings this Thanksgiving season!
Pastor Paul