“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” (James 1:17)

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we are most likely looking forward to spending time with friends and family, and of course, having Thanksgiving dinner!

When we think of the Thanksgiving holiday, we think of one special day out of the year. However, as Christians, we have so much to be thankful for all year long. If we are not careful, we can miss the blessings God has given us on a daily basis.

When we are surrounded by our loved ones at the dinner table on Thanksgiving, it is easy to adopt an attitude of thankfulness. After all, this is what this day is for! However, when we face trials, this might be a different story.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” While this can be challenging, as sons and daughters of the King, we know that the circumstances we find ourselves in are never by mistake. We know God has a unique purpose for each of our lives, and that is something to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving can provide us with the perfect opportunity to “reset” our hearts and place our focus back on Jesus. As we reflect on our past, we can see all of the areas in which God has blessed us.

This Thanksgiving, I challenge you to adopt an attitude of thankfulness that will carry with you for the rest of the year. As you spend the day with your loved ones, share with each other the ways God has worked in your life. Ultimately, this will bring Him glory!

Grand Canyon University is a Christian college with a biblically rooted mission. To learn more about GCU’s Christian identity and heritage, visit our website or request more information by using the button at the top of this page.