Beautiful Thanksgiving Prayers that will Bless Your Heart

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I paused today to write Thanksgiving prayers, because…

I’m getting ready to spend a busy weekend prepping the kitchen for Thanksgiving and decorating for Christmas.

I know I may be breaking an unwritten code by putting up my Christmas tree before Thanksgiving, but the gratitude holiday is so late this year, I can’t wait any longer.

But even with all the planning, prepping, and doing, I don’t want to lose track of the reason we celebrate Thanksgiving in anticipation of the food and festivities

It’s easy for the meal and the fellowship to fill our thoughts to the point where we forget the reason for our celebration.

The Story Behind Thanksgiving

In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as American’s “first Thanksgiving”—although the Pilgrims themselves may not have used the term at the time—the festival lasted for three days.

In 1789, George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation; in it, he called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

On October 3, in 1863, at the height of the Civil War, President Lincoln made a proclamation to all Americans to pray to our beneficent Father, “with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and that “by the Almighty Hand heal the wounds of the nation.” He designated Thanksgiving should be celebrated the last Thursday in November.

paraphrase of article at History.com

Why is it important for us to take a day for Thanksgiving?

Maybe a more important question is…

Who are we pausing to thank?

Generalized gratitude that simply goes out into the atmosphere seems rather pointless.

We don’t know who wrote Psalm 100, but it is a wonderful prayer for Thanksgiving…

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
    Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before Him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
    He made us, and we are His.
    We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving;
    go into His courts with praise.
    Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and His faithfulness continues to each generation.

Psalm 100

God created you and me for His glory, and thanking Him is an important part of giving Him the glory He deserves.

So, I’ve written these Thanksgiving prayers to share with your family. I pray they bless your hearts…

Thanksgiving Prayers to Bless Your Heart

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

Father God, simply saying thank you falls short of the gratitude I want to offer to You for the countless blessings You poured into my life this year. You have mercifully protected me in ways I’ve seen, and I’m sure in immeasurable ways I haven’t. You have given me hope and courage when I’ve needed it most. Your love covers every area of my life! I praise You! Amen.

Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57

Father, the greatest gift of all is the forgiveness You give through Jesus. Through Your grace, Jesus’ sacrifice, and the gift of faith, You removed my sin and redeemed me from its eternal consequences.

Lord Jesus, thank you for living a perfect life, for suffering the punishment I deserve, and for the forever victory You have made possible. Thank you for Your unfailing, everlasting love.

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming into my heart and giving me faith. Thank you for giving me what I need to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. On my own, I can’t, I won’t—but with Your help, it is my heart’s desire. Amen.

I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

Ephesians 1:16–17

Father, thank you for the people in my life. The ones around my table and those unable to be here. Please be with us this day and throughout the year. Bless us with wisdom, insight, and strength so that we might glorify You with our lives.

May we love and pray for each other faithfully. May we be helpful and caring in all circumstances. May we be quick to forgive as You forgive us, and may we grow closer to You and one another every day.

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17

Heavenly Father, I pray that my life will glorify You. I want to live each day as a sacrifice of gratitude to You, and I want everyone I meet to know I love You.

Thank you for my home, my family, and my friends. Thank you for the food we eat and the clothing we wear. Thank you for the blessing of work and for the time to rest from that work. And thank you for love, laughter, music, hope, and the many ways You fill my life with good things.

Thank you! May all I do be by Your grace and for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Lord, it’s hard to be thankful sometimes! Please help me. I know that as long as I have Jesus, I have everything I need.

Your Word says that You will provide for the needs of those who SEEK You above all else. Please give me everything I need to KNOW, LOVE, TRUST, and OBEY You. Fill my heart with thanksgiving. I believe Your promise to give me everything I need to endure through Your all-sufficient grace, whatever my circumstances. I thank and praise you with a grateful heart. Amen.

I pray that your Thanksgiving celebration is filled with joy and that these Thanksgiving Prayers bless your heart.

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