What is the meaning of Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving has always been a special day. It’s an opportunity to reflect on and express gratitude for everything that we have. It’s also a time to celebrate with loved ones. There is also the opportunity to assist others who are less fortunate during this time. Numerous localities organize food drives and provide free Thanksgiving meals to people in need. 

Thanksgiving was a religious holiday. A deep connection and appreciation for the natural world and an acknowledgment of its Creator. Additionally, we express our faith that everything works out for the best. 

Ancient celebrations of Thanksgiving centered on offering thanks to God for His many blessings to humanity. It was also a time to rejoice over a harvest season.They worshipped God because of his kindness and provision. They praised God for ensuring their safety and success in the New World.

Gratitude

James 1:17 (WEBBE)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow.

1 Chronicles 16:34 (WEBBE)

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:8 (WEBBE)

Oh give thanks to the LORD. Call on his name. Make what he has done known amongst the peoples.

Colossians 3:15 (WEBBE)

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (WEBBE)

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus towards you.

Ephesians 5:18-20 (WEBBE)

… but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 

Praise

Hebrews 12:28-29 (WEBBE)

Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 13:15 (WEBBE)

Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 (WEBBE)

For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (WEBBE)

Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus towards you.

Jeremiah 30:19 (WEBBE)

Thanksgiving will proceed out of them with the voice of those who make merry. I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small.

Isaiah 12:4-5 (WEBBE)

In that day you will say, “Give thanks to the LORD! Call on his name! Declare his doings amongst the peoples! Proclaim that his name is exalted! Sing to the LORD, for he has done excellent things! Let this be known in all the earth!

Colossians 3:15-17 (WEBBE)

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord. Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

2 Corinthians 4:15 (WEBBE)

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

1 Chronicles 16:23-26 (WEBBE)

Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Display his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory amongst the nations, and his marvellous works amongst all the peoples. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

1 Chronicles 29:13 (WEBBE)

Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.

Revelation 11:17 (WEBBE)

saying: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and reigned.

Jonah 2:9 (WEBBE)

But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the LORD.”

Praise The Lord (Psalms)

Psalms 7:17 (WEBBE)

I will give thanks to the LORD according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalms 9:1 (WEBBE)

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart. I will tell of all your marvellous works.

Psalms 28:7 (WEBBE)

The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.

Psalms 30:12 (WEBBE)

to the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Psalms 50:14 (WEBBE)

Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.

Psalms 56:4 (WEBBE)

In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Psalms 69:30 (WEBBE)

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalms 92:1-3 (WEBBE)

It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, Most High, to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night, with the ten-stringed lute, with the harp, and with the melody of the lyre. 

Psalms 95:1-3 (WEBBE)

Oh come, let’s sing to the LORD. Let’s shout aloud to the rock of our salvation! Let’s come before his presence with thanksgiving. Let’s extol him with songs! For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.

Psalms 100:4 (WEBBE)

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name.

Psalms 103:1-4 (WEBBE)

Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! Praise the LORD, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits, who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

Psalms 106:1 (WEBBE)

Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psalms 107:1 (WEBBE)

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. 

Psalms 107:8 (WEBBE)

Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men! For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.

Thanksgiving For Friends And Christian Community

Colossians 2:6-7 (WEBBE)

As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

1 Corinthians 1:4 (WEBBE)

I always thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,

1 Corinthians 15:57 (WEBBE)

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14 (WEBBE)

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.

Lamentations 3:23 (WEBBE)

They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

Philippians 4:8 (WEBBE)

Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honourable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Thanksgiving In Tough Time

Galatians 6:9 (WEBBE)

Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up.

Philippians 4:4-7 (WEBBE)

Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15 (WEBBE)

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

Blessings And Joy

Matthew 13:16 (WEBBE)

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.

Numbers 6:24-26 (WEBBE)

‘The LORD bless you, and keep you. The LORD make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up his face towards you, and give you peace.’

Jeremiah 30:19 (WEBBE)

Thanksgiving will proceed out of them with the voice of those who make merry. I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small. 

Isaiah 9:3 (WEBBE)

You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.

Charity And Hope

2 Corinthians 9:11 (WEBBE)

you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

Luke 6:38 (WEBBE)

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”