Giving Thanks: Consider the Great Things

November 24, 2025

Today’s post will be a bit shorter—a few simple, devotional thoughts to honor the Thanksgiving holiday.

Buy this Thanksgiving music from my shop!

Christmas is already everywhere: in the stores, in people’s yards, on the radio, and so on. I must admit that I’m a little guilty too of welcoming Christmas already into my home. As I sit here and type, my children’s Christmas tree twinkles its little colored lights upstairs in our office.

As we drove through town on our way to church and noticed all the Christmas décor yesterday, I mentioned to my husband that it seems as if people want to skip over Thanksgiving and go right to Christmas. He wisely replied, “I don’t think many people are very thankful anymore.” Sadly, I tend to agree with him.

Yes, our American Thanksgiving holiday is the work of men’s hands (and the fruit of one woman’s very determined letter writing skills--thank you, Sarah Hale), yet scripture is full of gratitude, thanksgiving, and praise. Thanksgiving is not just the contrivance of man’s mind but actually the command of a good and kind God lest we forget His many blessings.

I’d like to share one verse today that may surprise you as a thanksgiving meditation. This verse is actually found in the book of I Samuel:

1Samuel 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

We have been studying the life of Saul in our adult Sunday school class (taught by my hubby, Jesse). As the nation of Israel prepares for a transition from a theocracy to a king, Samuel reminds the people of their spiritual need to serve the Lord and remember Him in gratitude. I’ve been pondering “consider how great things he hath done for you” and what that really means.

When I stop and ponder how much God has actually done for me, it’s staggering. It’s very easy for me to think that I deserve all of the good things in my life, but I simply do not deserve any of them.

The temptation to focus on the lack in life is great. Lack surrounds us, and longing tugs on our hearts every day. We wish we had more. We wish we had something different. Dark, ungrateful thoughts can haunt our minds: if only I hadn’t made that foolish choice as a young person, if only I had worked harder, if only this hadn’t happened to me…

Yet instead of considering all the things that aren’t or will never be, God has quietly been prompting me to look up to Him and consider Him and all the great things He has done for me. Sometime this week I hope to sit down in a quiet moment and make a list of all “the great things.”

What great things has God done for you, dear friend? I invite you to join me in making a list sometime this week of “the great things” and take a moment to talk to God in praise about those great things.

Dear friend, if this post (and this blog) is a blessing to you, will you share it with at least one friend or consider sharing it to social media (click on the three little dots at the top of the post for sharing options)? I would be so grateful for any word-of-mouth recommendations to friends and family!

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Ashley

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