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A Prayer to Remember to Give Thanks

There is a powerful connection between gratitude and peace.In today's episode by Tara L. Cole, she reminds us that when anxiety rises, scripture invites us to turn our attention to God through prayer with thanksgiving. Gratitude shifts our focus from ourselves to the One who is truly in control, reminding us of His past faithfulness and giving us hope for what’s ahead.

Reference: Philippians 4:6-7

Prayer: Father, please calm our children's anxious hearts and help them to see the blessings you've given them and thank you for them. In Jesus name, amen.

LINKS:

How to Pray God's Word For Your Children Guide

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Thanksgiving may bring to mind turkey and family gatherings, but its true origin carries a far deeper meaning. 

Which got me thinking, “what exactly was happening in the lives of the pilgrims when they decided to have the first Thanksgiving?”

The answer surprised me. I knew the basics, of course, but there was so much more! 

In this episode, we look back to 1621 and the remarkable resilience of the pilgrims, who paused to give thanks after a devastating winter that claimed half their community. Their gratitude wasn’t born from ease—it rose from loss, perseverance, and unwavering hope.

This is a great episode to listen to with your family or all by yourself. 

Join me as we rediscover the heart of Thanksgiving and learn how practicing true gratitude can reshape our own lives.

Xo,

Donna

And remember, I'd love to connect more on Instagram, where you'll find me at @donnaajones. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode!

Listen in to learn more :
(01:50) Origins and Traditions of Thanksgiving 

(07:32) Give Thanks in Everything

Donna’s Resources:

Order a copy of my new book - 

Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide to Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret. 

It is available anywhere books are sold– here is the link on Amazon. 

If you need a helpful resource for someone exploring faith and Christianity or simply want to strengthen your own knowledge, you’ll want a copy of my book, Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God.

It’s a must for seekers, new believers, and those who want to be more confident in their faith!

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Thanksgiving is a season meant for gratitude, yet it can also bring comparison, grief, and longing. Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that contentment comes not from circumstances or possessions, but from trusting in God’s promise: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” True contentment arises when we recognize His presence in our lives, even when what we desire seems absent. This season, learning to be thankful for what we have—not what we lack—can transform our hearts and deepen our trust in God.

Highlights

• Contentment is rooted in God’s faithfulness, not worldly circumstances.

• Thanksgiving can trigger comparison, grief, or longing, but gratitude refocuses the heart.

• Practicing thankfulness for family, home, and relationships cultivates a heart of contentment.

• Avoiding a love of money or material things helps prevent discontent.

• God’s promise to never leave or forsake us is the foundation for genuine peace and joy.

• Even in seasons of loss or unmet desires, contentment allows us to recognize and appreciate God’s blessings.

• Reflecting on Scripture daily encourages a shift from want to gratitude.

Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas!

Full Transcript Below:

Practicing Contentment This Thanksgiving

By Vivian Bricker

Bible Reading:

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). 

While thankfulness should be our main focus on Thanksgiving, sometimes it can also be a time of comparison. When we go to family get-togethers or friendsgivings, it is hard not to compare our lives to others. Maybe we are the only single person amongst our friend group and we want to have a spouse. Or maybe we are recovering from the death of a loved one and we have a hard time coping with the lightheartedness of those around us.

Personally, ever since my mom passed away, Thanksgiving has never felt the same. Some years it has been easier to cope with, while others the depression, grief, and loss has felt overwhelming. 

Although my family’s Thanksgiving doesn’t look like other people’s Thanksgivings, it doesn't mean we can not practice thankfulness for the blessings that we do have. In truth, it has allowed us to develop contentment for the circumstance we have found ourselves in. While I would want more than anything for my mom to be here, all I can do now is to be content and thankful for the family I do have and the time we

Thanksgiving is meant to be a day filled with gratitude, togetherness, and celebration. But as we reflect in today's prayer and devotional, for many, the holiday can stir unexpected stress — from difficult family dynamics to personal struggles that feel magnified this time of year. While we may go around the table listing things we’re thankful for, our hearts may feel far from peaceful.

Sometimes it’s the words of a family member that steal our joy. Questions about your marriage, appearance, career, or finances can sting deeply, even when spoken casually. At other times, the weight comes from personal difficulty — grief, divorce, anxiety, illness, or loneliness. These hidden burdens can make Thanksgiving feel more overwhelming than uplifting.

But Scripture gives us a different vision for this day: a life anchored in peace through prayer. Paul’s words in Philippians remind us that when we bring our worries to God — with thanksgiving — His peace guards our minds and hearts. This is not a peace we manufacture; it is a supernatural peace that calms what feels unsteady within us.

Peace does not mean your circumstances will change overnight or that every family gathering will be easy. It means that Jesus is present in every moment of it. He is ready to steady your heart, soothe your anxieties, and restore your joy. Thanksgiving is not only about expressing gratitude; it is about receiving the peace of Christ that carries us through every season.

If this Thanksgiving feels heavy, know this: you are not expected to carry that weight alone. God invites you to hand your worries to Him — not after the holiday, but right now. The peace Jesus promises is yours today and every day of the year.

Bible Reading:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6–7

Takeaway Truths

• Holiday stress is real, but God’s peace is stronger.

• Difficult people and personal struggles don’t have the final word — Jesus does.

• Prayer with thanksgiving opens our hearts to receive God’s supernatural peace.

• We are invited to lay down anxiety and pick up the peace Christ promises.

• Thanksgiving can be a day of calm when we choose to trust God with the weight we carry.

Let’s Pray

Dear Jesus,

This Thanksgiving is stirring up worries, stress, and concerns in my heart. I’m choosing right now to give all of these burdens over to You. I am tired of carrying them alone — they are stealing my peace and joy.

Please cover me with Your perfect peace and calm my anxious thoughts. Your peace is better than anything this world can offer, and I trust it will not fail me. Fill my heart with thankfulness today, and remind me that I can always come to You, no matter the season or circumstance.

Help me rest in Your love and walk through this

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at ⁠⁠⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal ⁠⁠⁠today!

Is Thanksgiving just a holiday tradition, or is it a spiritual battle cry?

This week, in honor of American Thanksgiving, we are jumping ahead to Psalm 100; the only chapter in the Bible specifically subtitled "A Psalm for Thanksgiving."
In this episode, host Jamie Hampton invites us to look beyond the festivities and see gratitude as a powerful weapon, one capable of shifting our focus from our own fragile plans to God’s eternal faithfulness.

If you have ever felt the exhaustion of trying to be "self-made," this episode is for you. We explore the deep rest found in the truth that "It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves." Join us as we enter His courts with praise, letting go of the need to control our destiny and embracing the joy of simply being the sheep of His pasture.

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In the classic A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Peppermint Patty sits at the table full of friends, bows her head to pray out of obligation, and then immediately complains that the meal didn’t meet her expectations. Toast, popcorn, and pretzel sticks were not what she had envisioned. Her disappointment quickly turned to frustration, and her frustration to grumbling.

Her reaction is far more familiar than we might like to admit. We also have ideas about what our holidays should look like — the food should turn out, the family should get along, the house should be peaceful, and everything should go “just so.” But when expectations don’t match reality, grumbling comes easily.

Tracie Miles reminds us that Scripture calls us to a higher way.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, Paul says we are to be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. Not when everything is perfect. Not when everyone behaves.
In all circumstances.

Why?
Because this posture aligns our hearts with the will of God. A grateful heart is a guarded heart — protected from bitterness, disappointment, and the subtle lies of the enemy who wants us focused on what’s missing rather than what God has provided.

Grumbling narrows our vision.
Gratitude widens it again.

Grumbling focuses on the gift.
Gratitude focuses on the Giver.

And biblical thanksgiving is not something we do once a year — it is a daily discipline, a choice we make long before the feelings catch up. Thanksgiving resets our spiritual perspective, reminding us of who God is, what He’s done, and why His faithfulness is reason enough to rejoice.

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

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

FOUR WAYS TO REPLACE GRUMBLING WITH THANKSGIVING

1. Intentionally Remember God’s Past Faithfulness
When we recall what God has done, we loosen the grip of frustration over what hasn’t happened yet. Gratitude grows when memory is intentional.

2. Shift Your Focus from What’s Missing to What’s Present
Grumbling fixates on lack. Gratitude celebrates abundance. Train your eyes to look for God’s goodness right where you are.

3. Choose Thanksgiving Before You Feel It
Colossians 3:15 instructs us to be thankful — an act of obedience, not emotion. Speak gratitude aloud and let your heart follow your words.

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