Thanksgiving is here. For many this is a time to gather with friends and family, eat some incredible food, and celebrate the good things God has provided. Pastors, authors, and leaders regularly consider the important role gratitude plays in our lives. Here are some of my favorite thanksgiving quotes:
1. We weren't created to find our satisfaction in the little, earthbound kingdom treasures of the here and now. We were created to seek a better treasure, and in so doing to be eternally grateful and satisfied. – Paul David Tripp
2. A spirit of thankfulness is one of the most distinctive marks of a Christian whose heart is attuned to the Lord. Thank God in the midst of trials and every persecution. – Billy Graham
3. Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it. – A.W. Tozer
4. A sensible thanksgiving for mercies received is a mighty prayer in the Spirit of God. It prevails with Him unspeakably. – John Bunyan
5. No matter what our circumstances, we can find a reason to be thankful. – Dr. David Jeremiah
6. We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good, if bad, because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country. – C.S. Lewis
7. When we choose thankful prayer over wallowing in anxiety and worry, we are demonstrating an unwavering trust in God. – Priscilla Shirer
8. Genuine thankfulness is an act of the heart’s affections, not an act of the lips’ muscles. – John Piper
9. It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do. – Tim Keller
10. I’m just thankful for everything, all the blessings in my life, trying to stay that way. I think that’s the best way to start your day and finish your day. It keeps everything in perspective. – Tim Tebow
11. We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the psalms, and that the habit of celebrating the greatness and graciousness of God yields an endless flow of thankfulness, joy, and zeal. – J.I. Packer
12. The DNA of joy is gratitude. – Paul David Tripp
13. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. – Max Lucado
14. A thankful heart is one of the primary identifying characteristics of a believer. It stands in stark contrast to pride, selfishness, and worry. And it helps fortify the believer's trust in the Lord and reliance of His provision, even in the toughest times. No matter how choppy the seas become, a believer's heart is buoyed by constant praise and gratefulness to the Lord. – John MacArthur