November is Thanksgiving Month, a joyful tradition passed on by American missionaries to churches in the Philippines.
It is a time to pause, remember, and celebrate God’s goodness. Yet true thanksgiving goes beyond celebrations and blessings.
As Paul teaches, we are to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Gratitude is not rooted in what we have, but in the God who walks with us in every season.
Thanksgiving has deep biblical roots. In the Old Testament, Israel offered thank offerings and celebrated harvest festivals to acknowledge God as the giver of every blessing.
In the New Testament, Paul encouraged believers, even while he was imprisoned, to rejoice always. Thanksgiving has always been both a confession of God’s goodness and an act of trust in difficult times.
First, cultivate gratitude in all circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Gratitude is a choice shaped by faith, not by circumstances. Paul wrote to a church facing persecution, urging them to remain thankful because gratitude keeps hearts anchored in God’s character. It shifts our focus from what is missing to what God continues to provide.
Begin each day by naming your blessings. Let gratitude replace complaints, and trust replace anxiety. Thanksgiving becomes a lifestyle when we intentionally look for God’s grace in ordinary moments.
Second, live thankfully by giving generously.
Philippians 4:11–13 says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances… I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Paul learned contentment not from abundance, but from Christ’s sufficiency. A thankful heart naturally becomes a giving heart.
When we recognize that everything is from God, we give joyfully: time, resources, compassion, and service.
Let your thanksgiving overflow in generosity. Share meals, support ministries, help the needy, or simply encourage someone who is weary.
Gratitude grows deeper when it is expressed in love.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving Month, let us remember that gratitude is not confined to a day or a tradition. It is a way of life rooted in God’s unchanging goodness.
May our hearts be full of praise, our hands full of generosity, and our lives full of testimonies that point others to Christ. | NWI
