The Power of Thanksgivingಮಾದರಿ

The Biblical Command

Thanksgiving is an important topic often taken for granted. Gratitude is a biblical command. It affects how we see the world, it affects our health, and it fights depression, anxiety, pride, and entitlement. Thanksgiving is a powerful form of worship that can change our lives and break heavy yokes off us. Yet with all these great benefits, much of society lives ungrateful lives, robbed of all its benefits. Throughout this plan, we will look at different parts of thanksgiving and what it can do in our lives.

Today, I want to start with looking at thanksgiving as a command. I know that seems remarkably simple, but it’s really important. Many people believe that gratefulness is part of a personality type. They think that because they don’t feel gratitude flowing naturally, it must be out of their reach. However, that is far from what the Bible teaches. The Bible commands us to be grateful, to give thanks to the Lord, to praise the Lord, and to tell of His deeds. We are told 53 times to give thanks to the Lord, or to God. 67 times we are told to praise the Lord. This isn’t a brief afterthought; this is a repeated command in both the Old and New Testaments. If we are commanded to give thanks, it's because we can.

We can be grateful! While this is great news, many don’t understand the importance or power that gratitude has. We will look at different areas throughout the plan, but even secular psychology now sees power in this command. “Research over recent years clearly shows that gratitude has been linked to decreased depression, increased optimism, fewer physical ailments, and increased amounts of Dopamine in the brain….” according to Emiliana Simon-Thomas, science director of the Greater Good Science. Gratitude is discovered to be a natural antidepressant. Which is amazing!

The antidepressant drug market was valued at over $18 BILLION USD in 2024. There are so many people struggling, looking to break free from depression. This biblical command fights depression without any damaging side effects. Gratitude actually affects our brain's chemistry! When we take the time to give thanks, it activates certain neural circuits, and the production of Dopamine and Serotonin increases. These neurotransmitters then travel neural pathways to the “bliss” center of the brain — similar to the mechanisms of many antidepressants. This simple Bible truth fights depression.

Today, after you read the verses and commands to give thanks, I invite you to actually give thanks. It's easy to agree that we should, while not taking time to do it. Take a minute or two and give thanks for something or someone in your life. There is even more power as we share and express our gratitude, so share with someone what you are grateful for today.