The Power of Thanksgiving

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

Maybe that’s because it hasn’t been contaminated by commercialism. I’m thankful I never had to dress up for my kids in a big brown turkey suit and gobble around! For me, Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, spending time with family, enjoying great food, and playing some backyard football! More importantly, it reminds me to stop the rat race and be thankful for my Savior, family, friends, and teammates.

This year has been marked with adversity, disappointment, pain, and loss. As I’ve stopped and reflected, I have learned firsthand from the Apostle Paul’s encouragement about what God’s will is for me: to give thanks in all circumstances! When God surrounds you with family and friends who stand in the gap and believe in you, you make it through the most difficult year of your life while giving thanks. And for that, I am eternally grateful!

This past summer, I took my first sabbatical after 34 years of ministry. It was long overdue! During the three months, my goal was to create space to be in God’s presence and rest so He could personally restore, renew, and refresh me for the next season of ministry. It was a powerful time of solitude, empathy, rest, healing, and celebration.

A prayer that ministered to me greatly during sabbatical is called The Apprentice Prayer, written by Bill and Kristi Gaultiere. This prayer was an important part of helping me truly live these words daily—give thanks in all circumstances—even the hard ones.

“I trust You, Sovereign Lord, that You won’t let anything happen to my family or me today, except that it passes through Your loving hands. So no matter what problems, hardships, or injustices I face today, help me not to worry or get frustrated, but instead to relax in the yoke of Your providence.”

This prayer is powerful, and God used it to release the pain and accept the adversity as a gift from Him. Hard to do, but so good! As I reflected on how God used this prayer to bring healing, I was led to write my own prayer this Thanksgiving.

This prayer is what God did in and through me during this season. It is simply called, The Thanksgiving Prayer. Thanksgiving is powerful but remember, the power is in the action. It’s saying it. It’s praying it. It needs to be spoken! May God use this prayer in your life during this special time of the year. May your heart be overflowing with thanksgiving and exploding with rivers of grateful praise.

The Thanksgiving Prayer

by DAN BRITTON

Today, my heart is full of thanksgiving, so I worship and praise You with all my heart. I feel Your presence, peace, and praise flowing through me and over me. The cup of my soul overflows with pure gratitude. Thank you, Lord.

Father, I am abundantly aware of Your blessings in my life. Every gift, every talent, every movement, every breath, You have given them all and I will not waste them. I will not discount or dismiss them. I will deeply value them. I am humbled and honored to harness them to faithfully serve You. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I know there is no room for pride in a heart that is full of thanksgiving, so search me and remove any seed of pride or selfishness. Replace it with humility, compassion, and empathy. I’m not concerned about impressing others. I don’t care if I am first, right, or tops, because I simply rejoice in the opportunity to be used by You to love and bless others. I have an Audience of One. Your pleasure in me is sufficient. Your pleasure is my goal and my victory. Thank you, Lord.

Lord Jesus, I won’t put unrealistic expectations on others. I will not think of myself better than others. I won’t criticize others or judge them, because I am intimately aware of Your grace and mercy in my own life. They are Your children just as am I. Every interaction, encounter, and conversation are a divine appointment from You and so I shout, “Thank you God!” for each person that You put in my path. I will treasure them and seek Thy will in all my interactions. Thank you, Lord.

Father, thanksgiving will be my theme song. Thanksgiving will flow from my lips daily. People I meet will be soaked with the overflow of my gratitude. In every situation, I won't be silent or hesitant to express my gratitude for that which You have done in my life. I know that thanksgiving is powerful, so remind me to release that power through spontaneous, selfless, and sacrificial action. Thank you, Lord.

Oh, Lord Jesus, I won’t hide my weaknesses, because I rejoice knowing that when I am weak, You are strong. I give thanks to You Lord, for my past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. Because Your love endures forever, I will fight the good fight, I will finish the race, and I will keep the faith! Thank you, Lord.

May every trial, challenge, problem, and hardship I encounter be another opportunity to praise and thank You. Adversity is a gift from You to mold, shape, and refine me. I will not waste it. The troubled times I trudge through every day, every week, every month, every season are ways to bring You glory. Nothing will rob me of the joy of the Lord! I will rejoice today, again I say, “Rejoice!” Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will glow with the radiance of one redeemed. No amount of thanks could capture the gratitude I feel for Your salvation. Your salvation is enough. There is no amount of money, no title, no achievement that I will ever attain that will ever compare to Your salvation, Your sacrifice, Your surrender for me. That is why I proclaim that all I have is You and all I want is You and all I need is You. Thank you Lord God Almighty who is and was and is to come again! Thank you, Lord.

Holy Spirit, I feel Your refreshment even now. My mind is renewed. My passion is revived. My heart is rejuvenated. I trust You to keep my heart full of gratitude that flows from Your unbounded and immeasurable generosity. I stand ready to be used by You. I am ready to witness all that You will do through me, because with a grateful heart, much can be accomplished. May the power of thanksgiving change the way I live and lead today. I am forever thankful. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Download "The Thanksgiving Prayer"