"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 106:7
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to express gratitude and gather in fellowship, yet amid the busyness of meal preparations and family visits, it’s easy to let intentional prayer slip by the wayside. This year, consider new ways to infuse your day with Spirit-filled moments of thanks. Whether you’re gathering with family, and friends or even taking some quiet moments for personal reflection, here are five creative ways to bring prayer into your Thanksgiving.
1. Start with a Thanksgiving Prayer Walk
Begin the day with a Thanksgiving prayer walk. Take a few moments to step outside, maybe first thing in the morning or after your Thanksgiving meal, and walk with a grateful heart. Notice the beauty in the world around you, the leaves rustling in fall colors, the crispness in the air, or the warmth of sunlight. As you walk, lift up a prayer of thanks for each of these wonders, recognizing them as gifts from God.
If you are walking with family or friends, take turns sharing things you’re grateful for and offering a prayer together. Nature has a unique way of helping us recognize that God’s blessings are all around us.
2. A Thankful Table: Gratitude Place Cards
Transform your Thanksgiving table into a space of thanksgiving by using gratitude place cards. Before guests sit down, leave a small card and pen at each seat, inviting everyone to write down a few things they’re grateful for this year. After the meal, go around the table and read these notes of gratitude aloud.
Close the activity by offering a group prayer, lifting up the praises written on each card and thanking God for His continued presence and guidance. This practice not only brings gratitude to the forefront but also helps everyone see how God has worked in each other’s lives over the past year.
3. Storytelling Prayer Time
Thanksgiving is a perfect occasion for sharing stories around the dinner table or living room. Set aside a few minutes during the day to share stories of God’s faithfulness.
Ask each person to share a story from the past year when they felt God’s love or guidance in a special way. These testimonies don’t have to be grand – sometimes, the small moments speak volumes! Whether it’s an answered prayer, a comforting verse or a kind gesture, these stories are reminders of God’s faithfulness and spark gratitude for how He moves in our lives.
4. The “5 Senses of Thankfulness” Prayer Exercise
Another creative way to incorporate prayer into your day is through a “5 Senses of Thankfulness” exercise. This guided prayer encourages participants to thank God through each of the five senses:
-Sight: Thank God for the things you see – the faces of loved ones, the beauty of the season and even the food prepared.
-Smell: Thank God for the scents around you – maybe the aroma of Thanksgiving dinner, the scent of spices or the fresh air outside.
-Touch: Thank God for the feel of things around you – a warm embrace from a family member, a cozy sweater or the textures of food as you prepare it.
-Sound: Thank God for the sounds you hear – laughter, music, conversations and prayers spoken aloud.
-Taste: Thank God for the flavors in each bite, a gift of nourishment and creativity.
Taking a moment for each sense allows us to recognize that every part of life, down to the smallest details, is a blessing from God.
5. Create a Thanksgiving Prayer Journal
If you’re looking for a personal way to pray this Thanksgiving, try keeping a Thanksgiving prayer journal. Start by writing down a list of blessings and things you’re thankful for. Then, write a prayer thanking God for each one, no matter how small or simple.
This journal can be something you revisit each Thanksgiving, adding new blessings each year. Over time, it becomes a beautiful record of God’s faithfulness. You might even want to share it with family members or friends, reading entries from previous years as a way to celebrate and remember the ways God has been present in your life.
A Final Word on Thanksgiving Prayers
Thanksgiving is more than a day for feasting – it’s an opportunity to pause, reflect, and remember the goodness of God. The Bible encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), reminding us that a grateful heart is one that honors God.
By incorporating these creative prayer ideas, you’re helping to make Thanksgiving a day that not only fills the body but nourishes the soul. Let this holiday be a time to connect with God, an anchor in the year where we intentionally look to Him with gratitude and anticipation for the blessings to come.
Thanksgiving prayer traditions can become a cherished part of your family’s spiritual life, bringing everyone closer to one another and to God. No matter how you choose to pray this Thanksgiving, know that God delights in our thanksgiving.
Let's pray:
God, thank you for the grace and mercy to approach your throne with thanksgiving and praise. Grant me a posture of humility as I seek ways to consistently practice gratitude. In your holy name, Jesus, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Drazen Zigic
Jamie Peplinski is the Senior Lifecycle Marketing Manager at PRAY.COM. She leads a prayer group and a worship team at her church in Milwaukee, WI, Mercy Hill. Her passions include prayer, music, leading cafe tours, traveling to new cities, Christian yoga, and attending music, art, and food events.
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Originally published Monday, 18 November 2024.
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