Thanksgiving is more than a date on the calendar. It is a call to remember, to honor, and to acknowledge the goodness of the Lord in every season. While the world may see it as a time for food and family, the roots of this day are soaked in prayer, Scripture, and reverence. From the windswept shores of Plymouth to the declarations of presidents, Thanksgiving has always been about turning the heart of a nation toward the Lord.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)
This study will walk through the history of Thanksgiving in America while reminding us that true gratitude is directed upward to the Giver of all good things.
The First Thanksgiving in 1621
The Pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic in 1620 were not adventurers seeking wealth. They were believers seeking freedom to worship God according to their convictions. Their journey was marked by hardship, sickness, and death. Nearly half of them perished during that first brutal winter.
But the next year, after a successful harvest and help from the native Wampanoag people, the survivors gathered to give thanks. It wasn’t a feast to celebrate abundance alone. It was an altar of praise in the midst of scars and sorrow.
Edward Winslow wrote that they were “so far from want,” not because they had much, but because they had seen the goodness of God. Their gratitude was rooted in faith, not fortune.
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
The first Thanksgiving was an act of worship. It was the fruit of a people who had suffered deeply, yet still trusted fully in the providence of God.
Thanksgiving in Early America
In the years that followed, days of thanksgiving were often declared by colonial leaders and communities. These were not seasonal habits, but rather spiritual gatherings. Whether it was in response to a military victory, a good harvest, or the end of drought, the people paused to give thanks to the Lord.
Church services were held. Sermons were preached. The people came together with humility, acknowledging the hand of God in their lives. These were not generic expressions of good will. They were deeply theocentric, God was at the center.
The Continental Congress proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving in 1777 during the Revolutionary War, urging the people to give thanks to the “Supreme Ruler of all human events.” Even in war, they recognized the Lord’s providence.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12)
George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789
After the ratification of the Constitution, President George Washington issued a proclamation designating Thursday, November 26, 1789, as a national day of thanksgiving. His words reflected a deep reverence for God.
“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits.”
Washington didn’t merely suggest gratitude. He called it a national responsibility. He understood that freedom and prosperity were not man-made, but gifts from the Lord.
He called the people to unite in giving thanks to God for His protection, for civil and religious liberty, and for His many favors.
This was not a call to gratitude in a vague or philosophical sense. It was a solemn appeal to honor the Lord publicly and sincerely.
Lincoln and Thanksgiving in a Time of Civil War
In 1863, at the height of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of thanksgiving. His proclamation recognized the hand of God upon the nation, even in the midst of conflict and grief.
He wrote that blessings had been granted by God “with such extraordinary precision that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible.”
Lincoln called the nation to set apart the last Thursday of November “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
His words echo the truth found in Scripture:
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17)
Lincoln didn’t wait for peace to give thanks. He led the nation in bowing before God while the wounds of division were still bleeding.
The Establishment of Thanksgiving as a National Holiday
For decades following Lincoln’s declaration, Thanksgiving was celebrated annually, though the exact date varied. In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt attempted to move it earlier by one week to encourage holiday shopping during the Great Depression.
This caused disagreement among states. In 1941, Congress resolved the confusion by officially declaring that Thanksgiving would be observed on the fourth Thursday of November.
Though the calendar was adjusted, the essence of the day remained unchanged. It was a time to reflect on the Lord’s provision and to give thanks with sincerity.
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4)
The Heart of Thanksgiving
True thanksgiving is more than a holiday. It is a way of life that flows from recognizing who God is and what He has done. It is a heart posture that acknowledges our complete dependence upon Him.
Gratitude is not reserved for easy seasons. Scripture calls us to give thanks at all times.
“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20)
When we look through the lens of Scripture, we see that thankfulness is tied to trust. When we give thanks, we are declaring that God is faithful, even when circumstances are hard. We are confessing that His character does not change and that His mercies are new every morning.
The enemy works hard to turn our focus inward or downward. But thanksgiving lifts our eyes. It turns our attention back to the One who watches over us. It softens pride, disarms bitterness, and renews joy.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
The Danger of Forgetting the Giver
In Deuteronomy 8, the Lord warned Israel not to forget Him when they entered the land and became prosperous. He reminded them that every blessing came from His hand.
“When you have eaten and are full… then beware, lest you forget the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 8:10–11)
This warning still applies. Prosperity can make people forgetful. Comfort can make us careless. But the thankful heart remembers. It never disconnects the gift from the Giver.
Paul described the root of mankind’s rebellion this way:
“Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful.” (Romans 1:21)
The absence of thanksgiving leads to spiritual darkness. But the presence of thanksgiving brings light.
Thanksgiving in the Life of the Believer
For those who belong to Christ, thanksgiving is not seasonal. It is continual. Our entire life is a testimony of His grace. We are not just thankful for the physical blessings we receive. We are thankful for who He is… unchanging, holy, merciful, and near.
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
That gift is Christ Himself. Through Him, we have peace with God. Through Him, we have hope beyond the grave. And through Him, our hearts are made new.
Gratitude is not merely a discipline. It is the fruit of abiding in Him. It wells up from the soul that sees clearly the goodness of God.
My Final Thoughts
Thanksgiving is a sacred reminder that our lives, our breath, our blessings, and our nation all rest in the hands of a faithful God. From the Pilgrims who bowed their heads in humble worship, to presidents who proclaimed national days of prayer, the message has been consistent… give thanks to the Lord.
As we gather with loved ones, let our hearts return to that place of reverence. Let the table be more than a meal. Let it be an altar. May our homes echo with Scripture, our words be filled with grace, and our lives with thanksgiving.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2)
Let this day remind us not only of our heritage but of our God. For He alone is worthy. Amen.
