5 Bible Verses to Read on Thanksgiving
It's that time of year once again. With the cavity-inducing observance of Halloween now behind us, the next big day is Thanksgiving.
Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every November, the holiday features families coming together and giving thanks for the bounty of their blessings.
During a time of counting blessings and ceremonial feasting, the holiday would not be complete without thanking the Giver of All Things.
So, offered below — in no particular order — are four Bible passages that are fitting for the holiday focused on giving thanks.
Enjoy these selections not only by yourself, but as a group, as you take part in familial gatherings on that special Thursday.
1. Psalm 136:1-9
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.
Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. Who made the great lights — His love endures forever. The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.
2. 2 Corinthians 4:15-16
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
3. Psalm 100:1-5
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
4. 1 Chronicles 16:8-18
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: "To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit."