We Should Give Thanks to God

Thanksgiving Day in the United States will soon be here.  This is a national day of giving thanks to God for his blessings.  For us in the Church of God, it is optional whether we observe the day or not.  God does not command it, so we are not required to keep it.  But neither does God forbid it, since it does not involve pagan customs or origins.

But if we keep it, I think it is important that we observe it in a godly manner.  We should focus more on giving thanks to God than on just celebrating with family and friends and enjoying good times.

But though the observance of Thanksgiving Day is optional, the giving of thanks to God as a way of life is not.  We can use Thanksgiving Day as an annual focus on giving thanks to God if we wish, and it can serve as a reminder, but we should make the giving of thanks to God all year long a way of life.  In fact, God commands that we give thanks to God.  That is not optional.

Some of us have hard lives.  If you have trouble thinking of things to give God thanks for, see my post "Give Thanks to God", dated November 27, 2013.

One thing we can all give thanks for is God's protection from Satan and the existence of our very lives.  Satan is powerful enough to quickly destroy every one of us, everyone who knows the truth, except for God's protection.  Satan can only do what God allows him to do, and the fact that we are alive shows God's protection.

God commands that we give thanks.


"And he [David] appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel" (1 Chronicles 16:4).

"And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD" (2 Chronicles 31:2).

"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night" (Psalm 92:1-2).

"Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name" (Psalm 97:12).

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name" (Psalm 100:4).

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever" (Psalm 107:1).

"Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence" (Psalm 140:13).

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:20-21).

"He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks" (Romans 14:6).

"But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks" (Ephesians 5:3-4).

"And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God" (Ephesians 5:18-21).

"We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you" (Colossians 1:3).

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior" (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15).


The observance of Thanksgiving Day is optional, but the giving of thanks to God as a way of life is not optional but is commanded by God's Word.

Let us continuously give thanks to God for all things all year long.