A lot of families got together this past week to take part in an American tradition called Thanksgiving. It is a time when we look back on the year and give thanks for our blessings through the year. The very definition of the word thanks means “to express gratitude”. Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to give thanks and express our gratitude toward God.

Is thanksgiving the only time we come together to give our thanks to God? Or can it be done throughout the year? 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Christians are encouraged to rejoice and give thanks to God in all circumstances and pray continually because that is what God wants us to do.

Psalm 106:1 says “Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 118:21 says “I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.” David here is giving thanks to God because of his unfailing love and his goodness towards him. His God has become his Salvation so he can only give him thanks. In the same way, we have to give thanks to God because he deserves our thanks and our praise.

Philippians 4:6 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Paul here is urging us to present our requests with thanksgiving in our hearts when we go before God. How often do we as Christians come before God just demanding God to answer our prayers without an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving in our hearts? God sees our hearts and He knows if we are coming to him with gratitude or not.

In the gospels, we see Jesus multiple times giving thanks to God before a meal. Matthew 26:27 says “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.” Mark 8:7 says “They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. Luke 22:17 says “After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you.” John 6:11 says “Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” We see Jesus here always giving thanks before eating or drinking. In a way, Jesus was already doing in the bible what we do on thanksgiving day before eating a meal which is giving thanks to God.

The Bible is very clear in its message about giving thanks to God. We have to give thanks to God at all times and in all circumstances. Americans celebrate thanksgiving once a year as a day of thanksgiving but for Christians, every day is a day of thanksgiving, every day is an opportunity to give thanks to our God. Psalm 100:4 says “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Let us enter his courts with thanksgiving in our hearts and always give thanks to our God who loves us and cares for us.