The Momentary Power and Eternal Benefit of Thanksgiving

By Danny Saavedra

“Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”—Psalm 111 (NIV)

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. If you participate in social media, you’ve probably noticed that it’s become popular for many to launch the season with a post-per-day of something they’re thankful for. I’m not sure when or why I started doing this, but it’s become somewhat of a tradition. I enjoy thinking of and sharing fun or funny things to be thankful for. My hope is that it spreads a positive vibe to my friends and family, challenging them to be grateful as well.

According to Dr. P. Doraiswamy, head of biologic psychology at Duke University Medical Center, giving thanks is good for our health. “If [thankfulness] were a drug, it would be the world’s best-selling product with a health maintenance indication for every major organ system,” said Dr. Doraiswamy.

Studies on gratitude have shown measurable effects on everything from neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine), social bonding hormones (oxytocin), and cognitive and pleasure-related neurotransmitters (dopamine) to inflammatory and immune systems stress hormones (cortisol), cardiac and EEG rhythms, blood pressure, and blood sugar, according to Doraiswamy. Other medical studies have indicated a thankful attitude reduces stress and boosts immunity. In fact, a therapist friend of mine once shared that thanksgiving and anxiety cannot coexist in the brain at the same time! Isn’t that amazing?

When the psalmist wrote Psalm 111, I’m not sure if he was aware of the specific health benefits that thankfulness produces. However, he surely knew it is good, right, and appropriate to give thanks to the Lord. And what’s the best way to go about experiencing all the momentary and eternal benefits of thanksgiving? How can we activate thanksgiving in our hearts and minds? Easy: “Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered. . . . He has shown his people the power of his works.”

Do you see it? If you want to experience thanksgiving toward the Lord in your heart, you simply have to recall to your mind the things He’s done for you, your family, your friends, and for the world both right now and since the beginning.

How did you come to know and believe in Him? When did you first hear the gospel? What blessings can you think of right now? I love how Psalm 40:5 (NLT, emphasis added) puts it: “O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.”

Whatever situation you’re in right now, whether it’s good or challenging, you can choose to give thanks. You can join the psalmist in praising the Lord because “He provided redemption for his people,” because “He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever,” and because “the works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.”

I hope you’ll join me today in counting blessings, in looking on at all God has done, is doing, and will continue to do in you, through you, and around you. I hope you’ll join me in reflecting and praising Him simply for who He is, for His character, for His nature, for His goodness, and His loving kindness. He is worthy of all our thanks and praise!

Pause: Why do you think anxiety and thanksgiving cannot coexist in our minds? Why does being thankful provide so many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits?

Practice: Read through Psalm 111 again tonight before your go to sleep. Then, sit and reflect as you lay there, recounting the many blessings of the Lord on your life this year.

Pray: Father in heaven, “I will extol the Lord with all my heart.” This day, I desire to simply meditate on and bask in the innumerable blessings and loving kindness You’ve shown me. Thank You, Lord, for being You. Thank You, Lord, for sending Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for saving me. Thank You, Lord, for giving me the Holy Spirit and Your Word. Thank You, Lord, for every blessing and every trial, and thank You for being right there with me in both. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.