November 24th, 2025
by Skott Jensen
by Skott Jensen
Finding Joy Beyond the Holiday
The world tells us that thanksgiving happens once a year—a single Thursday in November when we gather around tables laden with food, pause briefly to acknowledge our blessings, and then move on with our lives. But what if we've been thinking about thanksgiving all wrong? What if gratitude isn't meant to be a seasonal event but a revolutionary way of living that transforms everything?
The Preparation We Miss
Consider the absurdity of how much preparation goes into one meal. The presidential turkey pardon involves months of training, Secret Service screenings, luxury hotel accommodations, and handlers working in shifts. Classical music is played to calm the birds. Timing is calculated down to the hour to ensure everything goes perfectly for that one moment in front of cameras.
We invest enormous energy preparing for temporary things—the perfect meal, the ideal celebration, the flawless holiday experience. Yet how much preparation do we invest in cultivating a heart of thanksgiving that lasts beyond a single day?
The disconnect is striking. We'll stress over whether the turkey is moist enough, whether the decorations are Instagram-worthy, whether we've checked every box on our holiday to-do list. Meanwhile, we neglect the daily practice of gratitude that could revolutionize our entire existence.
A Different Perspective
Scripture gives us a radically different framework: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Notice what it doesn't say. It doesn't say "give thanks when things are going well" or "be grateful on designated holidays" or "express appreciation when you feel like it." It says ALL circumstances. Always. Without ceasing.
This isn't naive optimism or toxic positivity. This is a fundamental shift in how we view our lives and our relationship with God. When we declare "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1), we're making a choice that transcends our circumstances.
The doctor's report doesn't dictate our praise. The difficult relationship doesn't determine our thanksgiving. The financial pressure doesn't control our joy. When we anchor our gratitude in who God is rather than in what's happening around us, we discover an unshakeable foundation.
The Strength of Gratitude
Thankfulness isn't just a nice religious practice—it actively strengthens our relationship with God and with others. Colossians 3:15-16 connects peace, gratitude, and community in a powerful way: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
A thankful heart builds bridges instead of walls. It opens doors that bitterness has locked shut. It creates space for reconciliation where offense has taken root.
Think about the people who have invested in your life—those who loved you when you weren't particularly lovable, who showed patience when you were difficult, who believed in you when you doubted yourself. Have you thanked them? Have you acknowledged their impact?
Gratitude strengthens relationships because it recognizes value. When we express thanks, we're saying "I see you. I appreciate you. What you did mattered." This applies to our human relationships and exponentially more to our relationship with God.
Taming Our Response
One practical challenge we all face is controlling how we respond when life gets difficult or when people frustrate us. Our natural inclination is to react immediately, to speak our minds, to defend ourselves, to correct the record.
But there's wisdom in slowing down. Before firing off that text message or email, before speaking those words we can't take back, we need to pause and invite the Holy Spirit into the moment. Write it out first. Wait. Reread it. Ask yourself: are these words building up or tearing down? Are they spoken in love or in anger?
This doesn't mean we suppress truth or avoid difficult conversations. It means we choose our words carefully, recognizing their power to heal or harm. Sometimes we need to take our opinions to the altar before we take them to others.
And when someone has genuinely wronged us? We practice the ultimate act of thanksgiving-fueled forgiveness: we pardon them. We release them to God. We choose not to carry the weight of bitterness because we're too grateful for our own forgiveness to withhold it from others.
Entering His Gates
Here's the transformative truth: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name" (Psalm 100:4).
Want to get closer to God? The pathway is thanksgiving. Want to experience more of His presence? Enter through gratitude. Want to live in the fullness of what He's promised? Praise Him before you see the fulfillment.
This is where faith and thanksgiving intersect. Thankful people don't wait for God to finish before they praise Him. They thank Him for what He's already promised. They declare victory before the battle is won. They express gratitude for provision before it arrives.
This isn't presumption—it's faith in action. It's saying "I trust You enough to thank You now for what I know You're going to do."
Beyond the Holiday
As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, we face a choice. We can treat it as one day of gratitude surrounded by 364 days of complaint, stress, and ingratitude. Or we can let this season launch us into a lifestyle of thanksgiving that transforms every ordinary day.
The joy of the Lord is our strength, but we access that joy through gratitude. Depression loses its grip when we thank God for His presence. Anxiety diminishes when we praise Him for His provision. Fear retreats when we worship Him for His protection.
This doesn't mean life becomes easy or that challenges disappear. It means we face them from a different posture—not as victims of circumstance but as grateful children of a faithful Father.
We've been given eternity with Jesus—no sickness, no pain, no tears, just endless joy in His presence. When we grasp the magnitude of that gift, how can we not live every day in thanksgiving?
So this Thanksgiving, and every day after, choose gratitude. Thank Him before you see the answer. Praise Him in the middle of the difficulty. Bless His name when circumstances suggest otherwise. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and watch how it transforms not just your holiday, but your entire life.
Rejoice always. And again, rejoice.
The Preparation We Miss
Consider the absurdity of how much preparation goes into one meal. The presidential turkey pardon involves months of training, Secret Service screenings, luxury hotel accommodations, and handlers working in shifts. Classical music is played to calm the birds. Timing is calculated down to the hour to ensure everything goes perfectly for that one moment in front of cameras.
We invest enormous energy preparing for temporary things—the perfect meal, the ideal celebration, the flawless holiday experience. Yet how much preparation do we invest in cultivating a heart of thanksgiving that lasts beyond a single day?
The disconnect is striking. We'll stress over whether the turkey is moist enough, whether the decorations are Instagram-worthy, whether we've checked every box on our holiday to-do list. Meanwhile, we neglect the daily practice of gratitude that could revolutionize our entire existence.
A Different Perspective
Scripture gives us a radically different framework: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Notice what it doesn't say. It doesn't say "give thanks when things are going well" or "be grateful on designated holidays" or "express appreciation when you feel like it." It says ALL circumstances. Always. Without ceasing.
This isn't naive optimism or toxic positivity. This is a fundamental shift in how we view our lives and our relationship with God. When we declare "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1), we're making a choice that transcends our circumstances.
The doctor's report doesn't dictate our praise. The difficult relationship doesn't determine our thanksgiving. The financial pressure doesn't control our joy. When we anchor our gratitude in who God is rather than in what's happening around us, we discover an unshakeable foundation.
The Strength of Gratitude
Thankfulness isn't just a nice religious practice—it actively strengthens our relationship with God and with others. Colossians 3:15-16 connects peace, gratitude, and community in a powerful way: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
A thankful heart builds bridges instead of walls. It opens doors that bitterness has locked shut. It creates space for reconciliation where offense has taken root.
Think about the people who have invested in your life—those who loved you when you weren't particularly lovable, who showed patience when you were difficult, who believed in you when you doubted yourself. Have you thanked them? Have you acknowledged their impact?
Gratitude strengthens relationships because it recognizes value. When we express thanks, we're saying "I see you. I appreciate you. What you did mattered." This applies to our human relationships and exponentially more to our relationship with God.
Taming Our Response
One practical challenge we all face is controlling how we respond when life gets difficult or when people frustrate us. Our natural inclination is to react immediately, to speak our minds, to defend ourselves, to correct the record.
But there's wisdom in slowing down. Before firing off that text message or email, before speaking those words we can't take back, we need to pause and invite the Holy Spirit into the moment. Write it out first. Wait. Reread it. Ask yourself: are these words building up or tearing down? Are they spoken in love or in anger?
This doesn't mean we suppress truth or avoid difficult conversations. It means we choose our words carefully, recognizing their power to heal or harm. Sometimes we need to take our opinions to the altar before we take them to others.
And when someone has genuinely wronged us? We practice the ultimate act of thanksgiving-fueled forgiveness: we pardon them. We release them to God. We choose not to carry the weight of bitterness because we're too grateful for our own forgiveness to withhold it from others.
Entering His Gates
Here's the transformative truth: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name" (Psalm 100:4).
Want to get closer to God? The pathway is thanksgiving. Want to experience more of His presence? Enter through gratitude. Want to live in the fullness of what He's promised? Praise Him before you see the fulfillment.
This is where faith and thanksgiving intersect. Thankful people don't wait for God to finish before they praise Him. They thank Him for what He's already promised. They declare victory before the battle is won. They express gratitude for provision before it arrives.
This isn't presumption—it's faith in action. It's saying "I trust You enough to thank You now for what I know You're going to do."
Beyond the Holiday
As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, we face a choice. We can treat it as one day of gratitude surrounded by 364 days of complaint, stress, and ingratitude. Or we can let this season launch us into a lifestyle of thanksgiving that transforms every ordinary day.
The joy of the Lord is our strength, but we access that joy through gratitude. Depression loses its grip when we thank God for His presence. Anxiety diminishes when we praise Him for His provision. Fear retreats when we worship Him for His protection.
This doesn't mean life becomes easy or that challenges disappear. It means we face them from a different posture—not as victims of circumstance but as grateful children of a faithful Father.
We've been given eternity with Jesus—no sickness, no pain, no tears, just endless joy in His presence. When we grasp the magnitude of that gift, how can we not live every day in thanksgiving?
So this Thanksgiving, and every day after, choose gratitude. Thank Him before you see the answer. Praise Him in the middle of the difficulty. Bless His name when circumstances suggest otherwise. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and watch how it transforms not just your holiday, but your entire life.
Rejoice always. And again, rejoice.
Additional Content
How does the command to 'bless the Lord at all times' challenge you to respond differently during your worst moments or deepest struggles?
In what ways have you bought into cultural lies about not having enough, and how might shifting to a perspective of thankfulness change your outlook?
What does it mean practically to 'enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise,' and how can this transform your approach to drawing closer to God?
How can slowing down your responses and examining your words before speaking help you tame your tongue and strengthen your relationships?
What specific situation or person in your life do you need to 'pardon' or release to God, and what is holding you back from doing so?
How does praising God for what He has already promised, before seeing the outcome, demonstrate faith and change your spiritual posture?
What walls in your relationships need to be broken down through expressions of thankfulness, and who needs to hear 'thank you' from you?
How does the concept of being blessed with eternity shift your perspective on temporary struggles and material concerns you face today?
In what areas of your life are you waiting for God to finish before you praise Him, rather than thanking Him in advance for His promises?
How might your life change if you lived with a lifestyle of continual thanksgiving every day, rather than reserving gratitude for special occasions?
In what ways have you bought into cultural lies about not having enough, and how might shifting to a perspective of thankfulness change your outlook?
What does it mean practically to 'enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise,' and how can this transform your approach to drawing closer to God?
How can slowing down your responses and examining your words before speaking help you tame your tongue and strengthen your relationships?
What specific situation or person in your life do you need to 'pardon' or release to God, and what is holding you back from doing so?
How does praising God for what He has already promised, before seeing the outcome, demonstrate faith and change your spiritual posture?
What walls in your relationships need to be broken down through expressions of thankfulness, and who needs to hear 'thank you' from you?
How does the concept of being blessed with eternity shift your perspective on temporary struggles and material concerns you face today?
In what areas of your life are you waiting for God to finish before you praise Him, rather than thanking Him in advance for His promises?
How might your life change if you lived with a lifestyle of continual thanksgiving every day, rather than reserving gratitude for special occasions?
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