“The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever.’” (2 Chron 5:13)

At Thanksgiving, we gather with family and friends to express our gratitude and focus on our blessings. More than any other time of the year, we focus on what’s most important to us. We experience renewed hope and find deeper joy. How can we grow our faith and live a life of thanksgiving all through the year?

1. Offer praise to God. We should offer praise to God both in good times and in bad. It’s easy to praise him when things are going well. The challenge is to continue praising him when things aren’t. What are some ways you can give him thanks? You can offer a prayer of thanksgiving, tell others about all he’s done for you, or sing songs of praise.
2. Meditate on God’s word. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the busyness of the holiday season. Take a break to focus on God’s word. For verses specifically about giving thanks, do a quick Google search, or do a keyword search in your Bible app. I post verses on my refrigerator, above my computer, and on the desk where I do my Bible study. God works through the words in the Bible to draw us to him, to bring us joy, and to reveal himself to us.
3. Spend time in prayer. As Christians, we know we should “[r]ejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess 5:16-18). But with our busy lives, we often forget to pray. According to a survey by Crossway, the majority of people spend just ten minutes a day in prayer. I’m guilty of this as well. My intentions are good, but the moment something happens to draw my attention away from the Lord, I forget to turn to him in prayer.

I’m thankful for this time of year that draws our attention back to God and onto our blessings. But we don’t need to wait for the holidays to offer thanksgiving to God. By praising God, meditating on his word, and spending time in prayer, we can redirect our focus any time. When our heart is quick to give thanks, we’ll notice a deeper, abiding joy throughout the year.

Dear Jesus, thank you for this time of year when we focus on our blessings and all you’ve done for us. Help us to continue this attitude of praise and thanksgiving throughout the year.