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 With a Grateful Heart” was written in 1978 by Henry Smith. It was his only published worship song out of 300 unpublished compositions. Smith had trouble finding work after graduating from university and also suffered from a degenerative condition that later left him legally blind. While at his church in Williamsburg, Virginia, his pastor inspired him with a reference to how Jesus made himself poor in order to make others rich through him. Out of these circumstances, Smith penned the worship song. When Smith started performing the song in church, a visiting United States Military officer took the song to Europe, from where its popularity spread eventually to the USA. (source: wikipedia)
“Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods” – Psalm 95:2-3
Thanksgiving is a unique holiday where we have more opportunity to share Jesus with family and friends we don’t see often enough. This Thanksgiving, try a gospel conversation starter. “For what are you thankful” is a benign enough conversation starter. Try taking it to the next level this holiday by asking, “To whom are you thankful?” This will likely open some spiritual conversation or at least give you an opportunity to share about the One to whom we come with thanksgiving for His great salvation.
Other conversation starters might include:
- Do you find that faith or spiritual values affect your day-to-day life? your marriage? your job?
- If you could know God personally, would you want to?
- What do you think about when you fall asleep?
This Thanksgiving, try turning the conversation away from the Macy’s Day parade, the football game, or the delicious meal, and instead turn the conversation towards the deeper reasons we give thanks and celebrate.
Read more here for more conversation starters for Christmas.
