With A Heart Of Thanksgiving

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I’ve been reflecting on how easy it is to let gratitude slip when the world feels chaotic. There’s so much noise, pain, loss, division, and fear. And if we’re not intentional, our hearts can drift toward the weight of what’s wrong instead of the wonder of what’s right. 

But gratitude is more than a fleeting emotion. It really is a spiritual posture. It’s the heart's way of saying, “God, even when I don’t have all the answers, I still recognize Your hand at work.” 

Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation and to return kindness. Spiritually, it’s our acknowledgment that God is still good, even when life is unpredictable. Gratitude shifts our gaze from what’s missing to what’s been mercifully given. 

Psalms 100:4 reminds us to “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.”  This verse paints a picture of how we come before God. Our posture is important. Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday or something we do around a table, but it’s the key that unlocks His presence. When we enter His gates with gratitude, our hearts are open to encounter Him more deeply. It changes our worship from obligation to overflow. 

One scripture I’ve been reflecting heavy on, especially this year, is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Verse 18 specifically says, “in every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” You see how it says in every thing and not for everything? Gratitude doesn’t deny hardship; it declares that even here, even now, God is worthy of thanks. It’s an act of trust that says, “my faith isn’t built on what’s happening around me, but on who You’ve always been.” 

This is the rhythm of a grateful heart. It’s one that chooses to thank Him in the waiting, the wandering, and wondering. Gratitude grounds us when the world shakes. It reminds us that God’s goodness doesn’t depend on headlines or seasons. His goodness is steady, eternal, and unwavering. 

So this November, as we gather around tables and reflect on what we’re thankful for, may our gratitude not just be a tradition, but a testimony.  A reminder that even in uncertain times, our praise still rises. He is still worthy. He is still near. And there is always something to thank Him for.