Thanksgiving Isn’t Just a Feeling

Thanksgiving isn’t just a feeling—it’s a sacrifice that honors God, positions our hearts for blessing, and reflects our trust in His goodness.

“Offer God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High … He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who sets his way properly I will show the salvation of God.”—Psalm 50:14, 23 NASB

The Bible reminds us of the importance of being thankful. Thanksgiving demonstrates that we recognize what God has done for us. We remember His miracles, protection, and provision. We’re grateful for the ways He has changed our lives. We give Him thanks for His Word, the presence of His Spirit, the joy of knowing Him, and His incredible peace.

If we want to be victorious Christians, we must be thankful people … in all circumstances. When we give Him thanks, we honor Him. We show that we revere Him and appreciate the things He’s done.

When we offer thanks to the Lord, we prepare our hearts and lives to receive more of His wisdom and insight. We become ready for even greater outpourings of His blessings.

We’re asked to offer God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, an act that costs us something. A sacrifice implies that we have other options. We could focus on ourselves and our own pleasures. But instead, we choose to give up something to honor God.

This kind of sacrifice shows God that we value Him above everything else and place Him first in our lives.

Today, allow your heart to be filled with all the reasons you can be thankful to God. Thank Him aloud. Be willing to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to Him. Joyfully do something that costs you. Demonstrate your thankfulness by dedicating your time, talents, and treasures to Him.

Reflection Question: What can you joyfully sacrifice today to express your thankfulness to God?