Especially around Thanksgiving, there can be a lot of feeling full!
We fill up plates with food. We fill up memories with relatives or friends. And, we might fill up time with watching football or playing games.
During all this, do we remember to fill up our hearts with thanks and praise to God?
A Thanksgiving celebration is a great lead in to openly declare God’s character, proclaim his deeds, give thanks for his blessings, and point others to Jesus.
Of course, hearts full of gratitude should be our standard every day, not just on a holiday. Directing thanks to our heavenly Father, the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17), ought to be our first thought as we recognize God’s mercies and blessings in our lives. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly confess his name” (Hebrews 13:15 NIV). God delights in receiving our praise and thanks!
Have you already planned how to include giving thanks to the Lord during this holiday celebration?
One idea before eating is to gather everyone in a circle for a choral reading of Psalm 100, with parts for everyone, just for the ladies, and just the gentlemen:
(All) 1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
(Ladies) 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
(Gentlemen) 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
(Ladies) we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
(Gentlemen) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
(Ladies) give thanks to him and praise his name.
(All) 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues
through all generations.
Another idea is to put a verse of praise to God at each place setting. At some point during the meal, turn the focus to God as each person reads the verse in front of him. After this time of biblical praise, your guests might want to share their thanks to God for blessings during the year.
Some verse suggestions for the place cards are:
Psalm 103:8 “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” (NIV)
Job 12:13 “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.” (ESV)
Deuteronomy 32:4a “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.” (NIV)
Psalm 16:2 “I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” (ESV)
2 Samuel 22:31a “This is God – his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true” (ESV).
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, may our hearts overflow with thanks and praise! Let’s focus on God’s blessings and encourage one another to glorify God and exalt his name together (Psalm 34:3)!
Strengthen your heart with praise as you use a Heart Training book each day. Invite a friend join you and praise God together!