November 27, 2025 

Psalm 100:4–5 invites us into worship with these words: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Gratitude is more than polite manners—it’s the posture of a heart that recognizes the steady goodness of God. When we come before Him with thanksgiving, we aren’t just naming our blessings; we’re acknowledging the One who gives them. His love doesn’t fade when circumstances change, and His faithfulness doesn’t end with us—it keeps going, generation after generation. A thankful heart turns ordinary moments into sacred encounters, revealing the heart of thanksgiving—praise rooted in the unchanging goodness of God.

Devotional: Thanksgiving Day comes once a year, but gratitude was always meant to be a way of life. The psalmist’s call to “enter His gates with thanksgiving” isn’t a seasonal suggestion—it’s an invitation to live every day aware of God’s goodness. Gratitude isn’t just something we do; it’s who we become when we truly trust Him.

Today, across kitchens and tables, people will bow their heads before a meal. Some prayers will be brief, some tearful, some filled with laughter. But the beauty of this day isn’t in the perfection of the table—it’s in the presence of the One we’re thanking. True thanksgiving begins long before the feast. It starts in the quiet moments when we notice God’s fingerprints on ordinary life.

Psalm 100 ties thanksgiving to God’s character. We give thanks not because everything feels right, but because He is right—steadfast, faithful, good. His love endures forever. Gratitude, then, is less about circumstance and more about confidence in the One who never changes. It steadies us when the year has been hard, when seats at the table are empty, or when our hearts ache for something we can’t name.

Paul wrote in Philippians 4 that thanksgiving guards our hearts with peace that surpasses understanding. When we pause to thank God, even for the little things, anxiety loses its grip. Gratitude doesn’t erase problems—it reminds us we’re not facing them alone.

Think about the first Thanksgiving centuries ago. It wasn’t born out of comfort or plenty—it was born out of survival and grace. The Pilgrims didn’t give thanks because life was easy; they gave thanks because God had been faithful. That’s still the heart of it.

So today, let your gratitude be bigger than your circumstances. Whether your table is crowded or quiet, whether your year has been full or heavy, thank God for His unchanging love. Give thanks that His mercies were new again this morning, that His promises never fail, and that His presence fills even the loneliest spaces.

Thanksgiving isn’t about ignoring what’s hard—it’s about remembering what’s holy. It’s not the food that makes the day sacred; it’s the faith that lifts our hearts in praise.

Action: Before your meal, pause to thank God not just for what’s on the table, but for who’s at the table—and for His presence among you.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness through every season. Let my gratitude today overflow beyond this table, into every moment of life. May my heart stay open to Your goodness, long after the feast is done. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought for the Day: Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday—it’s a way of seeing God’s hand in everything.