On Sunday, January 31, 1957, Canadian Parliament proclaimed that “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed… [is] to be observed on” a Monday in “October.” This coming Monday, October 7, is Thanksgiving here in Canada. A day of giving thanks to God.

In the Old and New Testament there are many passages and verses of Scripture that speak to giving thanks in life and on our spiritual journeys.

“Give thanks to the LORD” (1 Chronicles 16:8).

“Let us come before [God] with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song” (Psalm 95:2).

“But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Psalm 100 is a wonderful psalm, or song, for giving thanks. It reads:

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD
with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that
the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are
his people, the sheep of his pasture. 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.

As you eat turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie celebrating Thanksgiving this coming week, give thanks to God. Thank God for his love, grace and mercy. Thank God for his goodness. Thank God for his faithfulness.

The above verses could be read as grace before your meal or as prayers after your family dinner. A beautiful Thanksgiving Day prayer, written by Mary Fairchild, says:

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to you and pray.
We give you thanks for all you've done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, your Son.
For beauty in nature, your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, your mercy and care
These are the blessings you graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow you all of our days.

Captain Mark Braye and his wife, Nancy, are the officers/pastors of The Salvation Army Temiskaming Community Church in Temiskaming Shores, Ont. They have two children, Hannah and Micah.