There are a lot of routines and traditions that I can count on during the first week of November. Disneyland will shift from Halloween to Christmas, as will my own home. Depending on the year, political ads will be in full force ahead of an election. 

Without fail, someone I know will begin a thankfulness photo challenge on social media. You’ve seen them: photos of cats and pumpkin-spiced coffee and loved ones. It’s a mosaic of all the little things that make a person unique, and though I don’t usually participate, I do enjoy seeing why others are thankful for!

As followers of Jesus, we have so much to be thankful for. This month’s passage from Hebrews 12:28 is a reminder that we are presently receiving a kingdom that can’t be shaken. God’s kingdom is both already and not yet, but we can rest in the knowledge that following Jesus makes us part of that unshakable kingdom. 

Being thankful doesn’t always come easy, but here are three simple reasons to be thankful:

1. God listens to our prayers. 

Isaiah 65:24 (NIV) says, “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” God listens to our prayers and knows what we will ask before we even speak! We can be thankful that our Creator loves and cares for us by listening and answering our prayers. 

2. God provides for our needs.

God’s provision is so much better than our own ideas of what we need! Matthew 6:25-34 talks about how God feeds the sparrows and dresses the wildflowers with beauty. How much more will He care for you? We can be thankful that God knows what we need and will provide for us without fail. 

3. We have fellowship with one another.

We see evidence in the early Church that points to the importance of the fellowship of believers. We can build each other up, support one another in trials and truly live in unity all while pursing Jesus. We can be thankful for the relationships with have with other believers. 

As we spend a month reflecting on all the things that we’re thankful for, don’t forget to meditate on the ways God has listened, provided and given us community with one another.

Dig Deeper:

Challenge yourself to read through all of Hebrews this month (you can follow the reading guide provided!), and write down something you are thankful for each day. After 30 days, that rhythm of thankfulness might change your life in ways you don’t expect! 

Prayer:

Lord, You have been so good to me. Forgive me for the moments I forget. Help me to see where You are moving in my life, when You listen, where You provide, and guide me in a life of overflowing thankfulness. Amen. 

Daily Readings

• November 1: Hebrews 1
• November 2: Hebrews 2:1-12
• November 3: Hebrews 2:13-18
• November 4: Hebrews 3:1-6
• November 5: Hebrews 3:7-19
• November 6: Hebrews 4:1-11
• November 7: Hebrews 4:12-5:10
• November 8: Hebrews 5:11-6:3
• November 9: Hebrews 6:4-12
• November 10: Hebrews 6:13-20
• November 11: Hebrews 7:1-10
• November 12: Hebrews 7:11-28
• November 13: Hebrews 8:1-9
• November 14: Hebrews 8:10-13
• November 15: Hebrews 9:1-10
• November 16: Hebrews 9:11-15
• November 17: Hebrews 9:16-22
• November 18: Hebrews 9:23-28
• November 19: Hebrews 10:1-7
• November 20: Hebrews 10:8-18
• November 21: Hebrews 10:19-31
• November 22: Hebrews 10:32-39
• November 23: Hebrews 11:1-12
• November 24: Hebrews 11:13-28
• November 25: Hebrews 11:29-40
• November 26: Hebrews 12:1-13
• November 27: Hebrews 12:14-29
• November 28: Hebrews 13:1-5
• November 29: Hebrews 13:6-14
• November 30: Hebrews 13:15-25

Flower Illustration by Lan Truong and verse illustration Saskia Bueno

This article was originally titled “I Thank God” in the November 2023 issue of Peer.