Give Thanks To The Lord: 19 Profound Reasons

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever (Psalm 118:1).

Though our nation celebrates Thanksgiving once a year, we who believe in Jesus Christ have reasons to give thanks every single hour of every day!

We should be the most thankful people on the face of the earth.

Here are 19 glorious, profound reasons to give thanks to the Lord every day.

#1 – Give Thanks To The Lord Because He’s Given Us The Greatest Gift

“For God so loved the world, that he GAVE his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

For to us a child is born, to us a son is GIVEN; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). 

God has given us the greatest gift he could possibly give us – Jesus Christ, his own Son. No other gift could ever be more valuable or precious. And if God has given us the greatest gift, he will certainly not withhold lesser gifts.

Charles Spurgeon talked about a woman who realized that Jesus was the greatest gift of all:

I have heard of some good old woman in a cottage, who had nothing but a piece of bread and a little water. Lifting up her hands, she said as a blessing, ‘What! All this, and Christ too?’

Most of us have seen movies like National Treasure or Indiana Jones (I know, I’m showing my age here) where people suddenly come into a room filled with treasures – mountains of gold coins and gold statues and treasure chests and great heaps of diamonds and jewels.

The scene that opens up before the characters takes their breath away.

We should give thanks to the Lord because we have something infinitely better in this life and the next: Christ is our treasure. And someday when we walk into heaven and we see the face of Jesus in all his incomprehensible glory we will fall on our faces and praise him forever. Christ is our treasure.

In Christ, we have eternal life. We have complete and total forgiveness of every one of our sins. We are now sons and daughters of God – God’s family. Even the angels aren’t sons and daughters.

In Christ, we have complete and total access to the very throne of God any time day or night. The Bible says we are joint-heirs with Christ – we share in Christ’s inheritance! In HIS rewards!

Here’s how Paul put it:

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8).

Paul says, if I had all the riches in the world, if I had mansions and wealth and fame and every good thing this world could offer, it is all rubbish, it’s all garbage, compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I give up everything for his sake – I’ve suffered the loss of all things.

If you have believed in Jesus and called upon him to save you and be your Lord, then you are richer than Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerburg or the richest kings who ever lived.

#2 – Give Thanks To The Lord For The Undeserved Gift Of Salvation

A gift is something we don’t deserve or haven’t earned. God doesn’t owe us anything!

This is why we should constantly give thanks to the Lord. If we deserved or had earned our salvation there would be no reason for us to give thanks. We didn’t deserve to have God give us the gift of his Son. All we deserved was to be cast into hell forever for our rebellion and sins against a Holy God.

But God is so loving and wonderful and amazing, that he gave his Son to us while we were still sinners and had no interest in God or love for him.

…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)

Incredible! Before we had any interest in God or desire to please him, while we were still spitting in his face and breaking his commandments, while we were slaves of sin and dead in our sins, Christ died in our place to save us from the wrath of God which we did deserve.

Salvation is a gift from God.

Every day, we should give thanks to the Lord for saving us.

#3 – Give Thanks To The Lord For His Precious Word

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts (Jeremiah 15:16)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).

What an incredible blessing! We have the very words of God himself, the fountain of all truth, wisdom, and revelation. In God’s word, he reveals himself, tells us what he is like, shares his very thoughts with us, counsels and guides us.

Apart from God’s word, we could not know about his holiness, love and his plan of salvation. Apart from God’s word we would not know about Jesus Christ or his sacrifice for us on the cross. We have God’s word. Millions don’t. We should be so thankful to the Lord for his precious word.

#4 – Give Thanks To The Lord For His Mercy, Love, and Faithfulness

God not only rescued us from our sins, but he actively loves us every single day

But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:21-13).

The Creator of the universe loves us! He pours out new and endless mercies every morning. He is faithful to us. He never takes his eyes from us. He is faithful to bless and guide and help and strengthen us. His love is steadfast. He never takes a break from loving us. Never turns away from us.

This gives us incredible hope and every reason to praise and give thanks to the Lord.

#5 – Give Thanks To The Lord That Nothing Will Ever Separate Us From Him

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39). 

Nothing will ever separate us from the love of our God. When my mother got Alzheimer’s disease, she said, “I hope I never forget Jesus and I hope I never forget my family.” I said, “Mom, even if you forget Jesus, he will never forget you. And even if you forget us we will never forget you.”

Nothing – nothing will ever be able to separate us from God’s love in Christ. What a gift! What a reason to give thanks to the Lord!

#6 – Give Thanks To The Lord That Someday We’ll See Him Face To Face

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2)

Jesus’ glory, beauty, and majesty are infinite. He is so beautiful that in Isaiah 6 the Seraphim, the highest angels in heaven, who had never sinned, had to cover their faces. They could not look upon the holiness and glory of God.

Yet we will someday look upon Jesus face to face, be amazed and astounded and give him glory forever and ever.

What a compelling reason to give thanks to the Lord!

#7 – Give Thanks To The Lord For Making Us Like Christ

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

As we behold Christ’s glory in his word and worship and prayer, God is transforming his children day by day into the likeness of Jesus. From one degree of glory to another. And someday we will be completely transformed into Christ’s likeness.

We won’t be gods, but we will be like him, clothed in his glory. This is absolutely staggering! Someday, we will be totally and completely conformed to the image of Jesus!

#8 – Give Thanks To The Lord That He’ll Fulfill His Plans For Us

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). 

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands (Psalm 138:8).

You may not know what God’s plans and purposes for your life are. But we don’t have to know because God does. And he has plans and purposes for every single one of his children. Before the foundation of the world he created good works for us to walk in.

Nothing can stop God from fulfilling his plans for our lives. We should thank God that he will fulfill his every purpose for us.

Isn’t that good news? Let’s give thanks to the Lord for fulfilling his good and perfect plans for us.

#9 – Give Thanks To The Lord For His Abundant Goodness

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! (Psalm 31:19)

God doesn’t have just a little bit of goodness stored up for us. He has ABUNDANT goodness stored up. He has bags and bags of grace stored up, just waiting to pour out on us.

We can thank our Father for the abundant goodness he has poured out on us already, and look forward to a future full of blessings in heaven.

#10 – Give Thanks To The Lord For His Daily Provision

Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11).

In the “Lord’s Prayer” Jesus tells us to ask our heavenly Father to provide for us. Most of us in this nation have food on our tables every day. Every meal is a gift from God.

Let’s constantly give thanks to the Lord for our jobs and our income and the abundance of food and provision he has lavished on us.

#11 – Give Thanks To The Lord For His Constant Protection

The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:7-8)

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:4).

God never takes his eyes off us. He watches over his children day and night. Let’s thank God for his daily protection, for the thousands of trips and drives God has protected you on. For protecting us every night as we sleep.

Let us thank God for protecting us from every attack of the evil one, and for delivering us from sin and temptation.

#12 – Give Thanks To The Lord For His Constant Guidance

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you (Psalm 32:8).

What an incredible promise! God himself promises to counsel and teach us. The Creator of the Universe is personally guiding each one of his children. He promises that if we ask him for wisdom he will give it to us. Jesus is our good shepherd who leads us beside still waters.

Are you unsure about what to do in your life? Are you facing baffling circumstances? Ask God for wisdom and guidance. He’s waiting to give it to you. And thank him that he has promised to give us wisdom, to instruct and show us the way to go.

#13 – Give Thanks To The Lord That He Hears Our Prayers

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7)

I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears (Psalm 34:4)

God has promised to answer the prayers of his children. Again and again, he encourages us to ask him for his help and grace and strength and provision. He doesn’t tell us to ask in vain. He tells us to ask because he intends to answer.

We should constantly give thanks to God for hearing and answering our prayers.

#14 – Give Thanks To The Lord For Our Families And Friends

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward (Psalm 127:3)

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17).

Our families and friends are wonderful gifts from the Lord. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to thank God for the gifts of your children, your parents, your brothers and sisters, and your friends.

#15 – Give Thanks To The Lord For Every Good Gift

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17). 

For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7)

Every good thing we have is a gift from God. Our talents, our health, our intelligence, our jobs, our homes. Our spiritual gifts. Just look around your living room or den. Look around next time you go shopping. Our lives are filled with gifts from God. Let’s thank him for his generosity.

#16 – Give Thanks To The Lord For Health and Strength

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul (3 John 1:2)

What a blessing good health is! We can give thanks for our eyesight and hearing, our taste, touch and sense of smell. We can thank God for every breath and beat of our hearts. Our health is a gift from God.

And for those of us who are suffering, as hard as that is to understand, we can still thank God that someday we will have new bodies free from all pain and sickness.

#17 – Give Thanks To The Lord That He Causes All Things To Work For Our Good

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,h for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Again, we may not understand it, but God causes ALL THINGS – good and bad – all things – to work together for our ultimate good. And someday we will see how. But for now, giving thanks in faith gives glory to God.

When we get to heaven, we’ll see many of the ways that God worked things together for our good and his glory. But while we’re on this earth, we express faith in him by giving thanks for his sovereignty.

#18 – Give Thanks To The Lord For His Promises To Our Children

The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you (Psalm 102:28). 

“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.” (Isaiah 59:21)

There are many many promises like these in God’s word. It is God’s will to save and bless our children.

Let’s continually give thanks to the Lord for his promises to work in our kids and grandchildren. If God wasn’t the one responsible for saving our children, how could we have any peace?

#19 – We Should Give Thanks To The Lord Because It Honors Him

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me (Psalm 50:23). 

Every believer’s greatest desire deep down is to glorify God. Most of us think that to glorify God we have to do something great. But the simple act of giving God thanks brings him glory. Giving thanks is an act of faith. We believe that every gift comes from God and we have faith in his promises to continue to give us every good gift.

---

Read Next:

• God Is Good: 5 Unshakeable Proofs
• 5 Powerful Prayers For Guidance When Life Feels Confusing
• God Is In Control: 14 Glorious, Comforting Realities
• Bedtime Prayer: Connecting, Submitting, Trusting God
• Let Go and Let God: The Right Way To Do It