A Lifestyle of Thankfulness

Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends,

As we celebrate today, my heart goes back to something we touched on in last week’s “Well of Praise” reflection — “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” (Psalm 100:4)

Praise and thanksgiving are not separate streams; they flow together. One leads us to the other, and both open the way for us to meet with the Lord.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday that invites us to slow down and consider what we are grateful for. But beyond this day, Scripture calls us to a lifestyle of thankfulness.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:17)

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Col. 4:2)

“Be joyful always… give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thess. 5:16–18)

In the hustle and bustle of life, it is good to pause — to sit quietly and reflect on the goodness of God, His character, His works, and His answered prayers. Without intentional moments like these, we can easily stay caught in the fast lane.

Over these past weeks of travel, as we have been visiting and ministering at different churches, we have been so moved by the Lord’s faithfulness. We are thankful for transformed lives. Often we meet people we ministered to years before, and the change in them pours thanks out of our hearts. God is at work, and it is a privilege to witness His ongoing grace.

With that in mind, I want to look at a moment in Scripture that beautifully captures true thanksgiving: David bringing the ark of God back to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:7–36).

We read in this passage, and also in 1 Chronicles 15:15–19, at least five elements of genuine thanksgiving. The people’s joy, their adoration, and David’s uninhibited devotion are striking. David was willing to look foolish in the eyes of others if it meant expressing his gratitude to God fully and honestly.

Here are five expressions of true thanksgiving that stand out in this passage:

1. Uninhibited praise

   • “Joyful song”

   • Musical instruments

   • Rejoicing (1 Chron. 15:16, 25)

     
     

2. Remembering what God has done

   • “Remember the wonders He has done…” (1 Chron. 16:12)

     
     

3. Telling others about it

   • Making known what He has done

   • Proclaiming His salvation

   • Declaring His glory (1 Chron. 16:8, 23–24)

     
     

4. Showing God’s glory to others

   • His splendor, majesty, strength, and joy (1 Chron. 16:24–27)

     
     

5. Offering gifts

   • Our time

   • Our resources

   • Our material goods

   • Our finances (1 Chron. 16:29)

     
     

Today, as we gather around tables or spend quiet moments with the Lord, I encourage us all to reflect on our own practice of thanksgiving.

For some of us, gratitude has been overshadowed by the worries of life. Let’s choose to pause and return to that heart of thankfulness.

For others, the gratitude is there, but has not been voiced or expressed in a long time. Begin again today. Thanksgiving grows as we practice it.

Let us give thanks, because we serve a great, mighty, faithful, loving, and gracious God.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. We are so grateful for every one of you, and for your partnership in the Kingdom of God.

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