Thanksgiving Dinner Prayer Examples. Thanksgiving Day 2023 is celebrated this year on Thursday, November 23, in the USA. Thanksgiving is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in American culture, and while the meaning is in the name, many people do not know what it truly means to give thanks.
Thanksgiving is more than having an extravagant feast, watching football, or keeping up a family tradition. Thanksgiving is about giving glory and praise to the one responsible for the many blessings in our lives – God.
So, the most crucial element of this day is the prayer, not turkey or pumpkin pie. So, what makes prayer so important? And what things should you include in your Thanksgiving dinner prayer?
Thanksgiving Dinner Prayer Points
There are many things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day:
- Say thanks for the gift of life.
- Say thanks for the faith.
- Say thanks for God’s love, help, and care.
- Say thanks to God for your family.
- Say thanks to God for your friends and relatives.
- Say thanks for the beautiful time together.
- Say thanks for the food and prosperity.
- Finally, say thanks for your country.
There are no wrong prayers if you pray with a sincere and pure heart. This prayer should have the apparent component of giving thanks, but that doesn’t mean the subject matter is limited. You can pray for God’s providence in the future or even name specific requests weighing on your heart. When you gather around the table, think about God’s goodness and pray sincerely.
Thanksgiving Day Prayer – Gratitude for Blessings
Heavenly Father, on this day of Thanksgiving, we gather with hearts brimming with gratitude for Your countless blessings. We thank You for the warmth of family and friends, the comfort of our homes, and the nourishment of the food we are about to enjoy. Bless this feast, and may it symbolize the abundant love and grace You shower upon us daily. As we partake, remember those less fortunate and inspire us to extend our hands in generosity and love. May this day remind us of Your unending goodness and keep us thankful, not just today but every day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Thanksgiving Prayer – Reflection and Unity
Dear Lord, as we come together on this Thanksgiving Day, we pause to reflect on the beauty of life and the gift of Your presence in it. We are grateful for the laughter, love, and trials; they shape and bring us closer to You. Bless each person around this table and unite us in bonds of love and understanding. As we share this meal, let us cherish these moments of togetherness and carry the spirit of gratitude beyond this day. May our hearts be filled with peace and joy, and may our lives reflect Your light and love in all we do. In Jesus’ name, we give thanks. Amen.
Thanksgiving Day Prayer – Harvest and Hope
Almighty God, we come before You on this day of Thanksgiving with humble hearts, acknowledging Your sovereignty over all creation. Thank You for the bountiful harvest, nature’s beauty, and the seasons’ rhythm. We are reminded of Your constant provision and care as we enjoy these blessings. We pray that those facing hardships may find hope and comfort in Your enduring love. Guide us to be stewards of Your creation and servants to one another. May this season of thanksgiving renew our spirits, fill us with hope, and strengthen our faith in Your unfailing goodness. Through Your grace, we pray. Amen.
Thanksgiving Day 2023: Thanksgiving Dinner Prayer Examples
Lord, we thank you for the many blessings you’ve given us – for friends and family, for your goodness to us, and most of all, for our hope in Jesus Christ. We pray that You will continue to bless us throughout this year and that we will glorify Your name in all circumstances. You are faithful and merciful, Lord, and we are thankful for your love. Bless this food to nourish our bodies and help us meditate on these things daily. Amen.
Following is a Thanksgiving dinner prayer example:
Heavenly Father, you have been so good to us. You have provided us with everything we need and so much more. We are grateful for our blessings in this life and the gift of eternal salvation. May these blessings always point us back to you so we can praise and give thanks daily. We ask that you continue to protect, guide, and bless us. And help us to live for you and follow your will above all. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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What does the Bible Say about Thanksgiving?
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Here in America, we are truly blessed beyond what we deserve. We are blessed with life’s necessities – food, water, shelter, clothing – and more- including the freedom to travel and gather with our families on Thanksgiving Day.
We did nothing to earn these things; instead, it is the gift of God out of the riches of His love toward us. We could never run out of reasons to thank Him. Countless verses throughout the Bible speak about giving thanks to God, especially in the book of Psalms.
In Psalm 100, David writes:
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.
Here, David implores us repeatedly to give thanks and provides us with the reason.
Give thanks because God created us and calls us His own. Give thanks because He is faithful, and His love is everlasting. There is nothing we can ever do to repay God for all He has done for us. But He requires nothing but our thankful hearts. So the least we could do is verbally acknowledge our gratefulness – and Thanksgiving dinner prayer is one way to do that.
Opportunity to Thank God
Of course, the greatest gift of all is the gift of Jesus Christ. Of course, it is good to have material things in this life, but all of these things are temporary. We have an eternal gift. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Thanks to Jesus, all our sins and shortcomings can be forgiven. We are set free and can joyfully look forward to eternity with Him.
Give thanks because God is faithful, and His love is everlasting
The Bible says we have inherited an entire Kingdom because we are now adopted into the family of God. Hebrews 12:28 says, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” This blessing of salvation, which we did nothing to earn, is something to include in any Thanksgiving dinner prayer.
Say Thanks to God Every Day
Prayers of thankfulness are not just reserved for Thanksgiving Day. We are called to give thanks every day. Colossians 4:2 says, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Thanksgiving dinner prayer is undoubtedly a wonderful tradition, but we must be careful that it does not become only a tradition. We shouldn’t practice Thanksgiving out of obligation or only on certain occasions. Thanksgiving is a lifestyle; this day is an excellent opportunity to be reminded.
Also read: Thanksgiving Prayer Guide
