TL;DR: Thanksgiving is more than a holiday—it’s a holy habit that draws our hearts back to God as the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Family prayers of gratitude help anchor our homes in humility, deepen our trust in Christ, and cultivate lasting joy that goes far beyond one Thursday in November.

Not long ago, my wife and I took our granddaughter to the local zoo. We saw decorations for the Halloween season, and we saw decorations for the Christmas season. What we didn’t see were decorations for Thanksgiving. 

Sometimes, it feels like our culture makes Thanksgiving a speed bump between pumpkin spice and Santa. We slow down for a quick beat in November, then put the pedal to the metal in December. That makes Thanksgiving family prayer so important for people of faith who understand the value of gratitude to our Maker and Sustainer. 

Why Thanksgiving? 

Honestly, human beings owe everything we have and everything we are to God. Some might not admit that, but that doesn’t make it any less true. As James told his readers, “Every good gift and every perfect gift” is provided by the “Father of lights” (James 1:17).

As a result, we should acknowledge God as the ultimate Giver. And we do that through prayers of thanksgiving. It might be as simple as a family dinner prayer or a word of appreciation breathed at the end of a crazy day.

The length of the prayer or the complexity of its structure doesn’t matter. Thanksgiving prayers are a matter of the heart. They also aren’t defined by our circumstances. The apostle Paul told the believers in Thessalonica to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, emphasis mine). 

You may wonder about God’s will in other areas of your life, but not thanksgiving. Gratitude moves our eyes off ourselves and resets them on the God who loves us more than we can imagine and holds our lives in His hands. 

Thanksgiving Prayers 

As the leaves start to change and the air turns crisp, our minds might shift naturally toward the Thanksgiving holiday. Gratitude becomes cool again—at least for a few weeks. It’s a great time to recommit ourselves and our families to prayers of thanksgiving. What feels right for a family dinner prayer one Thursday can take root in our lives every moment of every day for the rest of this year and for years ahead. 

A Thanksgiving Family Prayer to God

This is the starting point for any Thanksgiving family prayer we offer—whether for a family meal, in family devotions, or our personal time with God. Focus your gratitude on who He is, along with all He does. 

God, every good and perfect gift comes from You. Yet, You are great and worthy of our gratitude simply for who You are as Creator and Sustainer. Accept our humble prayer of thanks to You for being our God, our Father, our Friend, and our Provider. 

A Thanksgiving Family Prayer for Health and Provision

In general, our physical lives consist of two elements: our health and our possessions. God is the Author of both. He made us and heals us. He also meets every need according to His endless resources (Philippians 4:19). 

Lord, thank You for seeing us through another year. Thank You for watching over us, for keeping a roof over our heads and food on our table. Thank You for healing our sicknesses in the past and for the healing we are trusting You for in the future. We are stewards of the bodies and the resources You have provided. Help us to show our gratitude by faithfully using them for Your glory. 

A Thanksgiving Family Prayer for One Another

It might be easy to overlook, but our family prayers of thanksgiving should express gratitude for our family. God never makes a mistake, and He placed each member of our families exactly where He wanted them to be. It makes sense to thank Him for bringing you together. 

Heavenly Father, You build families according to Your will and Your purposes. Thank You for each person in our family. Thank You for the things each member adds to our experiences. Thank You for the special joys that only they can provide. We are not perfect, and we struggle at times. But we are grateful that You are allowing us to do life together. 

A Thanksgiving Family Prayer for Others

Of course, our relationships in life aren’t reserved for family members. Friends and mentors make a huge difference in who we are and what we do (Proverbs 17:17). 

Dear Lord, in Your wisdom, You did not create us to be solitary creatures. You made us to share relationships, just like the Father, Son, and Spirit. And in Your grace, You have brought so many wonderful people across our paths—both in the past and in the present. Thank You for the love and support they provide. Thank You for the times that their iron sharpens our iron. Thank You that we are not alone. And help us to be faithful friends to those who are faithful friends to us. 

A Thanksgiving Family Prayer for Your Church

Many of the friends and mentors God provides are connections we make through a local church. But the church is so much more than fellowship. It’s God’s tool for our growth and for service. It’s His beacon of light in darkness—and it’s how we fulfill His mission in the world. 

Lord, thank You for our church and the role it plays in our lives. Thank You for our pastor and the staff who guide us and reveal Your Word. Thank You for the chances we get to be Your hands and feet through this congregation. Thank You for the future hope our church represents. Continue to use our church and our church members for Your glory. Help us to be a light to the world that points others toward You. 

A Thanksgiving Family Prayer for Leaders

The Bible is clear that God has instituted government. In His sovereignty, He has established leaders to provide security and stability (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17). You may not agree with leaders on every point, but God still calls us to pray for them and to honor them. And we can thank Him for them and for His guidance, regardless of our differences. 

Dear God, we live in a culture torn apart by political arguments and vitriolic debates. In the midst of screaming voices, we thank You for our leaders. We thank You that You have put them into place for Your reasons, and we thank You for sparing us the chaos that would result if we had no leaders in place. Protect them. Guide them. Help them to seek You. And whatever our differences, thank You for working out Your perfect plans through them. 

A Thanksgiving Family Prayer for Second Chances

If you look back across the past year, you probably can identify places where you missed the mark. We’re all imperfect, which means we all make mistakes and need a “mulligan” in life. Failures are part of the human experience in a broken world. Thankfully, God redeems what the locusts have destroyed (Joel 2:25-27). As a result, our brokenness can also be a springboard for Thanksgiving prayers. 

Gracious Father, we acknowledge our mistakes and our shortcomings. We also thank You for being the God of second chances. Thank You for redeeming our mistakes. Thank You for working all things for our good and Your glory. We certainly don’t want to repeat or relive our failures, but we are grateful for the lessons they taught. And we are grateful to You for the clean slate You provide. 

A Thanksgiving Family Prayer for Hope and Purpose

God has a habit of using the weak and powerless for His glory. If we’re honest, few of us feel like we’re all that impressive compared to others around us—and we know we can’t hold a candle to God. Yet, He gives each of us gifts and talents to make a difference for His kingdom. We have hope and purpose because He has chosen us. 

Master, You really don’t need us. You are all-powerful and all-knowing. Yet, we thank You that You still choose to use us for Your purposes. Thank You for the gifts and talents You have provided. Thank You for the hope and purpose we find in being used by You to touch the lives of people and to live Your plans “on earth as it is in heaven.” 

A Thanksgiving Family Prayer for Simple Things

In our busy world, it’s easy to miss the simple things, the “small” blessings that God injects into our lives each day. It could be a morning on the porch with a cup of coffee or a few quiet moments on the couch with a good book. It could be a sunrise over the mountains or a sunset at the beach. Whatever the specifics, these are “good and perfect” gifts from God, and we should include them in Thanksgiving family prayers.

God of wonders, thank You for the simple pleasures that bring joy and peace to our lives. It’s so easy to miss these common blessings, to take them for granted. Thank You for each breath and for the air that each breath entails. Thank You for the world around us and for the way nature points us to You. Thank You for the quiet moments and the reminders that our peace is found only in You. Thank You for the simple things, which add more to our lives than we can really comprehend. 

A General Prayer for Thanksgiving Dinner 

For many, nothing focuses our attention on gratitude quite like the prayer before the annual Thanksgiving meal. Hopefully, the words you speak in that setting simply reflect the heart you’ve been cultivating all year long. Regardless, use this occasion to express appreciation to God for all of the blessings He provides. 

Great God, You are good, and You are worthy of every ounce of gratitude we can muster. As we approach this meal, we thank You for the food provided and for the people gathered around this table. But we also thank You for other blessings You provide. Forgive us for taking Your good gifts for granted. Help us to move forward with hearts filled with gratitude and thanksgiving to You for all that You do and all that You provide. Most of all, thank You for who You are, because what You do springs from who You are. Thank You, Lord. We love you! 

Carry It Forward 

Thanksgiving is part of the Christian life and can be found throughout Scripture. Prayers of thanksgiving should be a consistent part of our personal time with God. However, we also need to weave a spirit of appreciation into our family prayers. Planting the seeds of gratitude now can produce a bumper crop of contentment, satisfaction, humility, and faith for years to come. 

Plus, prayers of thanksgiving can protect you from unhealthy attitudes. If you struggle with discontent, focus on gratitude. If you wrestle with anger or impatience, take time to acknowledge God’s goodness and loving provision. If you’re stressed out or can’t sleep, count your blessings.

Your new focus on gratitude and thanksgiving might begin as the calendar flips toward November. But it’s something that can—and should—be nurtured all year long.

What is the simplest gratitude prayer?

“Thank You, Lord, for this day and every breath You give.”

What is a short Thanksgiving blessing for family?

“Lord, thank You for the gift of this family, for love that binds us, and for Your faithful provision.”

What is a good Bible verse for a Thanksgiving prayer?

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” — Psalm 107:1

What is a powerful Thanksgiving psalm?

Psalm 100 is the banner-waving Thanksgiving psalm—“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”