An A to Z Guide for Thanksgiving

A    Acknowledge God as the source of all blessings! He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. (Acts 17:25)

B     Be a blessing. “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

C    Celebrate God’s goodness and love. “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

D    Devote yourself to prayer. “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2)

E    Engage with people. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

F    Feast on God’s Word. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

G    Give thanks for God’s grace. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

H    Honor one another. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)

I    Invite others in. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9)

J    Journal your thanks. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered.’” (Exodus 17:14)

K    Keep your words sweet. “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)

L    Love beyond reason. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16)

M    Make music. “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” (Psalm 95:2)

N    Notice the unnoticed. “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40)

O    Open up and talk about God. “I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and saving help.” (Psalm 40:10)

P    Play! “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, ESV)

Q    Quiet your heart. “Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.” (Psalm 107:43)

R    Receive God’s blessings. “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” (Psalm 67:1-2)

S    Speak God’s blessings over one another. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

T    Tell of his awesome deeds. “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” (Job 5:9)

U    Unwind. “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

V    View your suffering in light of eternity. “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

W    Wait in hope. “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” (Psalm 130:5)

X    eXtol and eXalt the Lord! “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” (Psalm 34:1, 3)

Y    Yearn for this day. “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” (Revelation 11:17)

Z    Zealously choose gratitude at all times and places. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Writer’s note: Unless noted otherwise, verses are quoted from the New International Version (NIV).