A Reflection on Gratitude in Spirit and Truth
November 27, 2025
Beloved readers,
On this Thanksgiving Day, we pause amid the bounty of the table and the warmth of gathered loved ones to remember the One who provides it all. In a culture that often reduces this holiday to football, feasting, and frenzied shopping, R-Rated Religion calls us back to the biblical command: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4).
True gratitude is not seasonal sentiment—it is a lifestyle of worship that acknowledges God’s sovereignty, even when truth makes us uncomfortable.
A Brief, Honest History of Thanksgiving
In 1621, the Pilgrims—religious refugees seeking freedom to worship according to Scripture—celebrated a harvest feast after a brutal first year in the New World. Nearly half their number had perished, yet by God’s providence, the Wampanoag people shared knowledge of planting and hunting that helped the survivors endure.
That three-day gathering of 53 Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans was marked by thanksgiving to the Lord for His mercy and provision. William Bradford, governor of Plymouth, later wrote of how the Lord had graciously answered their prayers for survival.
Centuries later, in 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday, urging Americans to confess their sins, thank Almighty God for His protection, and pray for healing of the nation’s wounds.
The story is not without shadow—later relations between settlers and Native tribes were often marked by injustice and broken covenants. Yet even here, Scripture calls us to honesty: God is the righteous Judge of all history, and He uses even flawed vessels to accomplish His purposes. Thanksgiving reminds us to give thanks not for perfected history, but for a perfect God who remains faithful through every generation.
The Call to Genuine Thanksgiving
In an age of abundance, it is easy to thank the farmer, the cook, or the paycheck—yet forget the Giver of every good gift (James 1:17).
The Bible does not command gratitude only when life is easy. We are called to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
When we gather today, let us lay aside distraction and hypocrisy, and offer sacrifices of thanksgiving that honor the Lord who delivered us from sin and death through His Son.
Scriptures on Thanksgiving and Prayer
Psalm 100 (ESV)
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
His steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
A Thanksgiving Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You are the God who spread a table in the wilderness and who feeds the birds of the air—how much more do You care for Your children! We confess that we have often taken Your daily bread for granted and have been slow to give You the glory due Your name.
Forgive us, Lord. Cleanse us by the blood of Christ. Fill our hearts with genuine thanksgiving that overflows into praise, generosity, and love for our neighbors.
Bless the hands that prepared this meal, comfort those who mourn today, and draw every soul at every table closer to Your Son, Jesus Christ—the Bread of Life.
May our lives be living sacrifices of gratitude, holy and acceptable to You.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
From our house to yours—may your Thanksgiving be filled with the presence and peace of the living God.
— R-Rated Religion
Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025
R-Rated Religion 