The Thanksgiving Challenge—Transform Your Life with Thankfulness
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
Here’s the challenge: Whenever you feel like complaining, grumbling, getting angry, frustrated, anxious, or fearful, find a reason to thank God instead. By doing this, you’ll be doing God’s will all day. Make it a daily practice, and you’ll position yourself to experience the supernatural in your life!
Let’s delve into the foundation of thankfulness in Scripture. Like other spiritual virtues, such as love, thanksgiving has two parts. First, there is the inner attitude of the heart that recognizes the Lord’s goodness and is genuinely grateful. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 103:2:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
True thanksgiving begins with a grateful heart—a sincere appreciation of God’s goodness. Simply saying “thank you” without this inner gratitude is empty and meaningless, something the Lord does not value.
A thankful spirit will always find outward expression, primarily through words like “thank You.” When these words flow from a heart full of gratitude in a child of God, they become a spiritual sacrifice that pleases God. Hebrews 13:15 reminds us:
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
This brings us to the Thanksgiving Challenge: the words “continually” from Hebrews 13:15 and “in everything” from 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Thanksgiving should not be sporadic but a consistent attitude. It’s about finding reasons to thank God in every situation, even during challenges. It doesn’t mean thanking God for evil or the enemy’s attacks but developing the ability to see life through God’s perspective and find reasons to be thankful.
If your spouse does a hundred things that frustrate you today, look for one thing they do well and thank God for it. If you’re dealing with pain, don’t thank God for the disease—that’s not from Him. Thank Him for the strength to endure, the provisions He’s made, and the healing He offers. If you’re facing financial distress, don’t thank Him for the lack but for His provision and past faithfulness. When overwhelmed by global chaos, thank Him for His peace and sovereignty.
Speak your gratitude aloud when you can. If you can’t, thank Him silently in your heart—He hears the words of your heart. And when joy and blessings come, thank Him for those too.
Remember, your words matter. Thanking God is powerful.
By the end of today, if you embrace this Thanksgiving Challenge, you will have turned your complaints, frustrations, fears, and anxieties into thanksgiving, fulfilling God’s will according to 1 Thessalonians 5:18. But don’t stop at just one day—make it a daily habit. As the spirit of thanksgiving fills your heart, you will become an oasis of God’s presence and a magnet for His supernatural work, breakthroughs, and blessings.
So, here is the Thanksgiving Challenge today: “In everything, give thanks.”
Meditate
What are the two components of thanksgiving mentioned above? Reflect on these truths.
Apply the Word
Don’t just read this challenge—live it out today. Take up this challenge. Share it and invite others to join the #thanksgivingchallenge.
Pray
Ask the Father to help you cultivate a thankful spirit.
Recommended Read
- The Wonders of a Thankful Attitude
- The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
- What is Thanksgiving?
- What it Means to Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving
- Transform Your Life with Gratitude: Discover the Power of Testimony
- All Deshen Daily Devotionals
Free Mini E-book: From Spiritual Dryness to Flourishing
