The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading PlanSample

Give Thanks

Henry Smith

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because he’s given Jesus

Christ, his Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because he’s given Jesus

Christ, his Son

And now, let the weak say, “I am strong”

Let the poor say, “I am rich”

Because of what the Lord has done for us

Give thanks

Behind the Song

Henry Smith has written over 300 songs during his lifetime, but only one of them has ever been published. But that song, “Give Thanks,” has been one of the most popular and beloved worship songs of the last 30 years!

Smith had been writing hymns and spiritual songs for many years when he penned “Give Thanks” in 1978. His pastor in Williamsburg, Virginia, taught a sermon one Sunday that highlighted how Jesus made himself poor so that we could gain untold riches in him. Smith thought that sounded like a good idea for a song and proceeded to craft this powerful but simple chorus. He and his soon-to-be wife Cindy sang the song a number of times over the coming weeks. A young military couple heard it, learned it and took it with them when they returned to Germany. “As far as I know that is how my song got to Europe,” Smith explains. “It did a lot of traveling before Integrity Music published it.”

Eight years later, “Give Thanks” was recorded by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. The song was listed as “author unknown,” but a friend of Smith’s recognized it and brought the error to his attention. Integrity gratefully signed a publishing agreement with Smith, and the song quickly became known around the world. At one point, it was one of the three most frequently sung songs in American churches!

Taken from Worship Together Bible