It is November, and true to form, I have chosen Thankfulness as the word for this month. I know, you are probably being invited to list things you are grateful for all over your social media. But this is a bit different. I’m not going to ask you to make a single list. I am going to share some verses we can use to pour out our thanksgiving to God using words straight from his word. After all, that is how the first Thanksgiving was celebrated. It wasn’t all about the turkey and the pie; it was a day set apart to celebrate the provision of the father. It was Thanksgiving that just bubbled over as they saw and tasted what the Lord had done for them.

The word most often translated as Thanksgiving in the Old Testament is the word todah. This word is all about a concrete expression of our thanksgiving by offering praise and worship to our heavenly father. That, my friends, is what I have chosen to focus on this November. I hope you will join me.

Here are the verses I’d like to offer up for our focus this month. I know we are leaning heavily on the Psalms, but David just really was good at putting his praise and thanksgiving into words.

November Verses

Week 44

All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. Psalm 145:10

Week 45

Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Week 46

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

Week 47

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57

Looking Closer at This Week’s Verse

David is reminding us that all creation will thank God with praise. Here are a couple of additional verses that help us understand.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world. Psalm 19:1-3

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” Luke 19:40

God will be praised! We, along with all of creation were made to offer our praise and thanksgiving. I’m going to use November to sharpen my game. To make praise and worship a daily lifestyle. Want to join me?

Let’s Think This Through

When you think of what God has done in your life, what is your response?

How can you make a regular practice of praising and worshiping God?

Do you think there is value in an emphasis on Thanksgiving in November?

Father, there is so much to thank you for. I don’t want to reserve my praise and thanksgiving for Sundays, or November; I want to let it spill out every day in my relationship with you. Help me to be aware of who you are and all you have done as I attempt to live a life where worship and praise just spill out of my heart every day!

All verses here are from the New Living Translation.