It’s no surprise that the Bible tells us to be thankful; if we just reflect on half of what God has done, it’s too much to count in our lifetime. So how do we reflect this gratitude in our faith? How do we include our faith in every aspect of our Thanksgiving celebration?

Let The Little Things Go

It’s the day to start cooking the feast, and you’re dreading the all-too-familiar family annoyances. This is a vital time to allow the faith within you to propel grace.

It’s okay to know someone is bossy; it’s not okay to react to their bossiness in a negative way. Make cooking fun and full of memories, even if you drop the pie out of the oven; make things joyously memorable for everyone, including you.

Showing grace and a deaf ear to someone’s ill words towards you is one of the strongest characteristics of a believer; because we walk in grace, we share this grace. This is one of the characteristics of God, and so it should be deeply rooted within us.

“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”  —Psalm 50:23

Say Thanks Aloud 

When the lovely Thanksgiving dinner ensues, and banter, memories, and life are shared, it is a perfect time to go around the table and say what you’re most grateful for. It could be one of the best family traditions your family can celebrate during your Thanksgiving feast, because usually tears of gratitude are expressed. This is a way you can praise and give thanks before family and God; it’s a way for your faith to arise.

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”  —Psalm 9:1

Take Time For Quiet Prayer

Before dinner, a prayer is said, but that doesn’t mean prayer has to stop there. Pray at night. Pray during worship. Pray in the shower you may or may not take that night. Prayer is a quiet supplication and time to give thanks to God.

Also, whenever you worship, you’re worshipping a God whom you know is real and alive in your life; this is showing your faith in the most holy of ways. Our God loves when we purely sing to Him in worship.

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”  —Psalm 95:2

Make An Offering

This Thanksgiving, you can also think about what you can do to bring God closer to you throughout the holiday season and in the coming year. What will you be willing to sacrifice to draw closer to God? What will that offering look like for you?

This is the time to give thanks. This is the time to tell the world just how good, how faithful, how mighty, and how beautiful our God is. Make sure you make thanks to God a central focus of your Thanksgiving celebration.

You may also be interested in Finding Quiet Time For Reflection During The Busy Holiday Season