It’s THANKSGIVING 2024 and Christians across the USA are expressing gratitude to God for his countless blessings. That’s wonderful! But have you ever considered that Thanksgiving is not just a yearly event or obligation? It’s an invitation—a call to embrace a transformational lifestyle that glorifies God and fills us with JOY.
For many, Thanksgiving feels like checking a box: “God is so good to me, so I must say thank you.” That’s true—but stopping there misses the depth of what God desires. He isn’t looking for gratitude as payment for his blessings. Instead, he invites us to experience him more fully through PRAISE and GLORY.
THAT’S a NEW kind of Thanksgiving.
PRAISE AS THE HEARTBEAT OF THANKSGIVING
The Bible paints a clear picture: Thanksgiving is not just about recounting what God has done for us; it’s about rejoicing in WHO HE IS.
Psalm 95:2 reminds us, “Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.” And Psalm 35:18 says, “I will give You thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs, I will praise You.”
Here’s the distinction:
• Thanksgiving focuses on what God has done in our lives.
• Praise focuses on who God is—His character, His majesty, and His unchanging love.
When we reflect on the incredible gifts of health, family, and provision, let’s remember the Giver. Behind each blessing is God’s mercy—a mercy we don’t deserve. In truth, because of our sin, we deserve judgment. Yet, through the blood of Jesus, we are given grace. That realization infuses our hearts with JOY, moving us beyond thankfulness into exaltation of HIS NAME.
THE POWER OF TRANSFORMATION
Acknowledging God’s glory is not just about words. It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our perspective. It’s about seeing beyond our immediate blessings to the eternal truth that God is good—always. This revelation transforms Thanksgiving from an annual holiday into a daily rhythm of JOY. THAT’S a new kind of Thanksgiving.
Imagine a life where EVERY DAY throughout the year begins with gratitude for God’s works and ends with praise for his nature. That’s the kind of life God calls us to—one anchored in his presence and defined by worship.
Thanksgiving is not just about receiving blessings but being part of the blessing by glorifying the Giver. So that is what I am going to do this Thanksgiving.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
After you thank God for what he’s done in your life. After you praise him for who he is–our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. And after you allow his joy to fill your heart and flow into the lives of others. Make this year’s celebration a NEW kind of Thanksgiving that exalts God in everything.
“Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise His holy name.” Psalm 97:12
