Tag: Psalm 106:1

It’s no secret that focusing on gratitude leads to a healthier, happier life. A recent article from Harvard Health explains, “With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. As a result, being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.”¹

The article goes on to explain the research of Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, who tested the impact of various positive psychology interventions on 411 people. “When their week’s assignment was to write and personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone who had never been properly thanked for his or her kindness, participants immediately exhibited a huge increase in happiness scores. This impact was greater than that from any other intervention, with benefits lasting for a month.”²

It’s fascinating to see the way participants were positively affected by expressing gratitude to a specific individual. It reminds me of the importance of directing our general feelings of gratitude to the Lord as we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week. That is, after all, how the holiday came into existence. You probably know the pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving feast to honor God’s provision for them through a brutal winter. You might even know that Abraham Lincoln was the one who made it a national holiday. But, like me, you may not have realized that it was George Washington who made the original Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789.

Washington’s words in the proclamation state: “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.”³

The whole point of the holiday was to pause, look back and thank God for all He had done for our nation. The purpose of the day was not to watch football, attend parades, or even to eat turkey. It wasn’t created to signify the kick-off to the Christmas shopping season or to boost the economy with Black Friday sales. The purpose of the National Day of Thanksgiving was to thank God for His care, provision, and protection of the citizens of our country. It was a time to pause and reflect with gratefulness to someone very specific—the Lord.

George Washington was not the first leader to do this, nor is the United States the only nation in modern times that pauses for a day to give thanks. We are following the examples of those who have gone before us: Moses, David, and Solomon are among a variety of people in Scripture that led others to stop, reflect, and express gratitude to God collectively. (See Exodus 15, 1 Chronicles 16 & 1 Kings 8)

The New Testament also reminds us of the significance of expressing gratitude. Paul wrote in Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NIV) Usually we focus on the end of the verse that encourages us to offer our requests to God, but we tend to skip over the first part that tells us to precede our requests “with thanksgiving.”  However, expressing gratitude to God not only honors and acknowledges Him, it also changes our perspective. It reassures us of His faithfulness to us in the past, helping us to offer new requests with confidence. Thankfulness enables us to trust God is working for our good, even in difficult circumstances. It also reminds us of His unchanging character and directs us to notice His activity around us all the time, bringing unexpected joy. 

With the many extra things that have been added onto Thanksgiving over the years, acknowledging gratitude to God often gets lost in the shuffle.  And even when we do reflect on our thankfulness, it tends to be about what we’re grateful for instead of to whom we’re thankful. This year, I want to pause to acknowledge and appreciate God in specific ways. I want to stop and notice not only the gifts I’ve received, but the Giver. 

Rather than just having a general warm fuzzy feeling of thankfulness, will you join me in directing your gratitude to the One who gave us all that we have? Make it a goal to follow the advice repeated throughout Psalms: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”  (Psalm 106:1, NIV)

Let Crowder’s song “Thanks Giver” set the tone for your Thanksgiving celebrations this year. Click here to listen.

• 1. Harvard Health Publishing, “Giving thanks can make you happier”
• 2. ibid
• 3. George Washington, Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.

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