5 Thanksgiving Prayers to Help Express Your Gratitude

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Updated October 16, 2019

Thanksgiving is an incredible time to reunite with family and friends and meditate on the blessings of the previous year. Many of us encounter a revived hope and faith during the Thanksgiving holiday because we remember to focus on what truly matters and to be thankful for such gifts. May these Thanksgiving prayers help you express the gratitude in your heart for God and the blessings in your life.

We aspire to encourage and assist you along the way toward glorious faith and happiness! Below are 5 thanksgiving prayers you can use not only for Thanksgiving day but throughout the year. Start living out the way God intended us to experience our existence, “that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

1. A Prayer for a Thankful Heart

"Lord, teach me to offer you a heart of thanksgiving and praise in all my daily experiences of life. Teach me to be joyful always, to pray continually and to give thanks in all my circumstances. I accept them as Your will for my life (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). I long to bring pleasure to Your heart daily. Break the power of the enemy in my life. Defeat Him through my sacrifice of praise. Change my outlook and attitude into one of joyful contentment with my present circumstances. I thank You for… [Name a difficult circumstance in your life presently and thank God for it.]

Jesus, I want to be like You who obeyed the Father without complaint. You embraced the chains of humanity when You walked this earth. Convict me whenever I complain or compare myself with others. Give me Your attitude of humility and thankful acceptance. I want to be like the Apostle Paul who learned contentment in every circumstance. I choose to continually offer You a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that give praise to Your name (Hebrews 13:15). I long to bring a smile to Your face. Teach me the power of a thankful heart. I know that Your truth dwells in a thankful heart.

“I will give thanks to the LORD because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens” (Psalm 7:17-18:1). In Jesus’ name, amen."
- Debbie Przybylski, Intercessors Arise International

2. A Daily Thanksgiving Prayer

"Dear God, Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives, thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us. Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don't thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you've given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus' Name, Amen."
- Debbie McDaniel, Crosswalk.com Contributor

3. A Prayer to Teach Kids Thankfulness

"Lord, I pray that the message of Christ and his sacrifice is the root of gratitude in my heart. That His gracious gift leads me to thankful living, setting an example for my children. That they will have their own relationship with Jesus one day, and that You would grow gratitude in their hearts out of the acceptance of Jesus as their Savior. Lead us to do everything in the name of Jesus and give thanks to You through Him."
- Marie Osborne, Contributor

4. A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

"O Heavenly Father:
We thank Thee for food and remember the hungry.
We thank Thee for health and remember the sick.
We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service.
That Thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen."

- “Dear Abby” Columnist

5. Thanksgiving Lyrics (Also an Awesome Prayer!)

"Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.
From far and near we travel home,
Blessed that we are able.
Grateful for this sheltered place
With light in every window,
Saying welcome, welcome, share this feast
Come in away from sorrow.
Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend and friendless;
All together everyone in the gift of loving-kindness.
Grateful for whats understood,
And all that is forgiven;
We try so hard to be good,
To lead a life worth living.
Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend, and friendless;
All together everyone, let grateful days be endless.
Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table."

- Mary Chapin Carpenter - Thanksgiving Song Lyrics

Thanksgiving Prayers from the Bible:

Psalm 95
Psalm 100
Psalm 118:29
Philippians 4:6
Psalm 103: 1-5
Psalm 28:7
Psalm 136:1-5