Drink from The Well

As the autumn air cools and the bounty of the harvest season is gathered, we pause to observe Thanksgiving—a moment not merely for feasting, but for profound gratitude. If you live in the United States like me, we observe this national holiday this coming week. But if you live elsewhere around the world, these principles can be applied to life at any time. Thanksgiving Day calls us to lift our gaze beyond our plates and possessions and recognize the unwavering Source of all goodness: our Heavenly Father. Our thanksgiving is not simply a reaction to temporary blessings but a deep, enduring posture of the heart, rooted in the eternal truths of Scripture. For many, Thanksgiving is a beautiful yet fleeting moment—a long weekend, a shared meal, a football game. But the Biblical vision of thanksgiving calls for something more sustained, something that reshapes our very existence. It is an intentional, daily (not just once a year) commitment to seeing God’s hand in every facet of our lives, transforming the mundane into a miracle. This perspective allows us to maintain joy and hope, not just when our barns are full, but even when our circumstances seem empty.

The Foundation of Gratitude: Acknowledging God’s Character.

Before we count our blessings, we must acknowledge the Blesser. True thankfulness begins with recognizing God’s unchanging nature—His faithfulness, love, and sovereignty. We are grateful not just for what He does, but for who He is. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” — (Psalm 107:1) His goodness is the soil from which all our blessings spring. Even in seasons of scarcity or struggle, His fundamental nature remains a secure anchor for our souls. Our thankfulness is an act of faith, affirming that He is working all things together for good, even when the picture is incomplete. This acknowledgment of God’s character is a radical act of humility. It requires us to step down from the throne of our own lives and confess that we are not the source of our own success or survival. When we acknowledge Him as the King, the Creator, and the Sustainer, our hearts are naturally moved to worship. This is the difference between simple appreciation and true Biblical gratitude: appreciation focuses on the gift; gratitude focuses on the Giver. It is an affirmation that God is worthy of praise regardless of the gift’s size or our personal comfort level.

The Call to Remembrance: The Feast of Faith.

Thanksgiving is, at its heart, an act of remembrance. Like the Israelites who were instructed to recall God’s deliverance and provision in the wilderness, we are called to actively remember the mighty works the Lord has done in our own lives and in the history of salvation. The food on our table is a tangible reminder of His daily grace. “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” — (Psalm 103:2-5) Take time today to recount the “benefits” of God—the answered prayers, the unexpected provisions, the comfort in sorrow, and the forgiveness that covers all transgression. This act of remembering transforms a meal into a sacred celebration. Forgetting God’s benefits is a spiritual danger. When we forget, our hearts grow cold, and we quickly slide into entitlement or anxiety. The Psalmist reminds us to not simply feel grateful, but to actively remember the specific ways God has intervened. This intentional recounting—writing it down, speaking it out in prayer, sharing testimonies with family—fortifies our faith against future doubts. Furthermore, the greatest act of remembrance is the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, where we recall the ultimate gift: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which redeemed our lives from the pit. Every Thanksgiving meal, therefore, should be flavored with the deeper, eternal gratitude found at the foot of the cross.

Gratitude in All Circumstances: The Sacrifice of Praise.

The Biblical mandate for thanksgiving extends far beyond moments of prosperity. We are called to cultivate a spirit of gratitude even when the path is difficult, viewing praise as a sacrifice offered from the heart. This is the radical Christian response to the world’s challenges. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) This command does not suggest we ignore pain, but rather that we look through it to the greater promise. We give thanks in our circumstances, not always for them, because we trust in the ultimate victory and redemption secured through Christ. Our greatest Thanksgiving offering is our very lives, lived in surrender and praise. To give thanks in all circumstances is perhaps the most challenging, yet most powerful, form of worship. It acknowledges that God is sovereign over the circumstance. It is the spiritual discipline of choosing faith over feeling. When we offer this “sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15), we are declaring that our hope is not in the temporal stability of our lives but in the eternal steadfastness of our God. This sacrificial praise is often what opens our eyes to the small, consistent blessings we overlook in the midst of turmoil—the support of a friend, the strength to keep going, and the peace that transcends understanding. This difficult, yet deep, gratitude reorients our perspective, proving that true joy is not dependent on external conditions but on the internal reality of Christ dwelling within us.

The Cultivation of a Thankful Life: Daily Disciplines

While Thanksgiving Day is an annual holiday, a life of thanks is a daily pursuit. It is not enough to set aside one day for gratitude; we must build habits that keep our hearts inclined toward praise every hour. One of the most effective disciplines is the prayer of thanks. Rather than merely petitioning God for what we need, we should consciously dedicate a significant portion of our prayer time to thanking Him for what we already have. This practice reframes our needs against the backdrop of His incredible provision. Begin your day with a simple inventory of grace: thank God for the air you breathe, the comfort of your bed, the family around you, and the forgiveness you’ve received. A second vital discipline is the journal of blessings. Taking just five minutes each evening to write down three to five specific, recent blessings—answered prayers, unexpected kindnesses, moments of peace—trains the mind to look for God’s hand throughout the day. This physical record becomes a powerful testament during times of doubt, reminding us of His enduring faithfulness. Finally, we must practice the language of gratitude. Actively replace words of complaint or entitlement with expressions of thanks and contentment. This transformation of language not only changes our inner attitude but also blesses those around us, creating an atmosphere of faith and positive expectation. A life characterized by thanks is one that finds contentment in the present moment, trusting that God’s provision for today is exactly what is needed.

A Stewardship of Thanks: Sharing the Bounty.

Finally, our gratitude must be active and outward-focused. When we recognize that everything we have is a gift—our time, our talents, our material wealth—we are compelled to use it in service to others. True Biblical thanksgiving leads to generous action. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (NIV) Let our Thanksgiving celebration move us to share the “harvest” God has given us. May the abundance on our table reflect the abundance of His grace in our hearts, driving us to provide for those in need, offer genuine encouragement, and spread the good news of the gospel. As we lift our voices in thanks, may our lives become a continuous offering of praise to the One who gave His all for us. The overflow of genuine gratitude is generosity. It is a recognition that God has not blessed us solely for our comfort but for the advancement of His kingdom and the relief of our neighbor. Stewardship is the practical evidence of our thanks; it is using our resources—time, money, skills, and influence—in ways that honor the Giver. When we give cheerfully and sacrificially, we are declaring that God is our ultimate security, and the temporal wealth we hold is merely an instrument for His glory. This outward-focused gratitude completes the cycle: God gives, we receive with thanks, we share with joy, and others are led to glorify God—creating a continuous harvest of praise in the world. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!!

Gratitude by Brandon Lake