20 Scriptures to Reflect on for the Thanksgiving Holiday
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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Similar to many writings in the Book of Psalms, Psalm 107:1 urges us to give thanks to the Lord. If we look around us, there are so many reasons to be thankful.
We can often be distracted by all the things that we don’t have to the point that we forget what we do have. By reflecting on Psalm 107:1 during the Thanksgiving holiday, it can help lead our hearts and minds back to giving thanks to our Savior.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah during a dark time in Israel’s history. Even through this dark time, Jeremiah reminded Himself of God’s faithfulness and gave thanks to His Holy Name.
Jeremiah lived through a truly calamitous time, yet his eyes were always set upon God. He may have become depressed and crestfallen at times; however, he knew his hope was found in God alone.
Since he knew God could be trusted, he gave thanks to Him by praising Him for His love and faithfulness. During the Thanksgiving holiday, allow Jeremiah’s words to remind you of God’s ever-present love and faithfulness.
For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?
Once again, Paul is giving thanks in the passage to God for His faithfulness and goodness.
Paul praises God because He has allowed him to carry the gospel to the lost as well as he praises God for always being there for him. In the same way, God will always be with us.
Whether we are taking the gospel to the lost or teaching others about Him, He will also always be by our side. Paul attests to the truth that God is always worthy and deserving of our thanks.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him — and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
There were 10 lepers who were cleaned by the Lord, yet only the Samaritan returned to give praise to Christ. This Bible account from Luke 17:15-19 reminds us to reflect on the importance of giving praise to the Lord.
It can be easy to be like the other nine lepers, who left and did not return after being declared clean by the priest, yet God wants us to be like the one leper who did return and gave thanks to the Lord.
This is worthwhile teaching that we must practice in our own daily lives, not just during the holidays but throughout the year.
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
This is another psalm of thanksgiving as it reminds us to give thanks before the Lord with music and song. The Lord loves to hear us praise Him and give Him thanks.
Similar to the teachings of the psalmist, we can extol God with music and song. Throughout the Thanksgiving holiday, challenge yourself to come before the Lord with thanksgiving and praise Him with your voice.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 118:1 is another great reminder to give thanks to the Lord. This is a perfect Bible passage to memorize the week of Thanksgiving, as it can help you focus on what truly matters — God.
We can often get so caught up in the busyness of the holiday season that we can forget to give thanks to God. By memorizing Psalm 118:1, it can help draw our focus back to God and reflect on His love.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
This passage from James helps to bring our attention to the truth that every good gift that we receive is from God Himself. Good things only come from our Father — He never sends bad things to His children.
With these good gifts that God has given us, we need to give Him thanks and recall His past faithfulness.
While the gifts James talks about are not things such as birthday presents, James is referring to the good gifts, such as salvation, eternal life, and our loved ones, which are all given to us by God.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:12-13 is a great passage to reflect on for the Thanksgiving holiday because it reminds us that all we need is Christ. As Paul says, he has learned the secret of being content in every situation.
The secret Paul is referring to is Christ Himself. In the same way, we can give thanks to God because He is everything we need to live, receive salvation, and have eternal life.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.
Paul urges us to give thanks to God through all circumstances and in every struggle. This passage of Scripture encourages us by reminding us that we can give thanks to God in everything we do. We can sing psalms and hymns in our hearts to give praise to the Lord.
As believers, we need to make it a daily practice to continue to give thanks to God, just as Paul tells us in Colossians 3:15-17. The more we focus on giving thanks to God, the easier it will become to start being thankful to God in everything we put our minds to.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
Psalm 150:6 is a short passage of Scripture that could be a great memorization verse for the week of Thanksgiving. By keeping this Bible verse in our hearts and minds, it can help us to be reminded to praise the Lord.
The psalmist urges everything in all of creation to give praise to God, which includes us. This Thanksgiving holiday, try to memorize Psalm 150:6 and reflect on it often.
Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.
Jeremiah 20:13 is another passage written by the prophet Jeremiah, urging us to give praise to God. Jeremiah was highlighting the truth that God saves the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. He knew he could trust God to redeem him from the hands of his enemies.
Since Jeremiah was confident in the Lord, he offered up praise and thanks to God. In the same way, we, too, can offer up praises and works of thanks to our great God.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
In this final Bible passage, Paul is urging us throughout 2 Corinthians 4 to share the gospel, and through this, it will cause thanksgiving to overflow to God.
As we can see from Paul’s words, each time we share the gospel, we are helping thanksgiving to grow in the lives of others. This is a beautiful truth that we must reflect on during this Thanksgiving holiday.
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