TOP TEN HYMNS FOR THANKSGIVING
When the temperature drops a few degrees, many people are faced with a cultural dilemma: “Is it too early for Christmas music?” To which others respond: “IT’S NOT EVEN THANKSGIVING YET!!” They’re right. AND, at the same time, the reason some of us are ready to sing Christmas music as early as October is because there are not enough Thanksgiving songs to keep us singing for the duration of the entire fall season!
But I did manage to find TEN hymns that can be sung in October and November for those of you who prefer to put of jolly Christmas music until later in the year. Let’s go!
Count Your Blessings
Life is full of challenges and trials; it’s easy to get overwhelmed and lose sight of the greater picture – that God is ultimately in control. This hymn redirects our attention to God. Whatever billows, tempest, discouragement or conflicts life brings our way, God remains faithful to us. BUT sometimes it’s difficult to see it clearly (because we’re limited in our humanity). That’s when a hymn like “Count Your Blessings” can be helpful as it encourages us to slow down and intentionally name the specific ways in which God has blessed us in the recent or distant past.
2. We Gather Together
This hymn tells the ways in which God provides for his children – he protects us, he guides us, he defends us. And Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity for us to gather together and give thanks to our God for his love towards us.
3. We Plow the Fields and Scatter
This is a hymn that describes God’s provision via agricultural lens – even though we plow the fields and scatter the seeds, it is God who makes them grow, in his sovereignty. Similarly, he is sovereign over our lives; and that is a reason to give Him thanks.
4. Now Thank We All Our God
In the Romanian translation, the opening line of this hymn reads: “Today is New Year’s Day, Praise to You, O Lord.” Imagine my surprise when I learned that the English text had nothing to do with New Year’s Day! :) I even consulted the original German text – no indication of New Year’s Day. BUT if you think about it – both occasions (Thanksgiving and New Years) are times when people naturally reflect on things past and things to come. On both occasions we give thanks to God for all previous blessings and we pray for future blessings.
5. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Even though this hymn is not featured under the "Thanksgiving" section of the hymnal, I would still consider it a hymn of gratitude and Thanksgiving. Sure, it does not explicitly say "Thank you, God, for your faithfulness" but poetry need not be explicit. Gratitude is woven in the fabric of this hymn's text. After all, who do we give thanks to? God. Why do we thank God? Because He loves us. How do we know that He loves us? Because morning by morning new mercies we see. And (most importantly) we have pardon for sin and everlasting peace in His presence. Why does God love us? Because He is faithful. And because God is the same yesterday, today and forever, his great faithfulness is being poured out morning by morning EVEN unto ME! Thanks be to God!
6. Let All Things Now Living
This hymn lists ways in which God takes care of His children – he fashioned us, protects us, guides us. In the first verse the author echoes an Old Testament passage where God led the children of Israel by a pillar of fire: “His banners are o'er us, His light goes before us, / A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.” In the second verse the hymn writer lists elements from the created order – the stars, the sun, the hills, the mountains, the rivers, the fountains, the ocean. Finally, the hymn ends with a call to worship: “With glad adoration a song let us raise!”
7. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Similarly to “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” this hymn points to the source of all our blessings. You will not find it under the “Thanksgiving” section of the hymnal, but it is nonetheless a hymn of thanksgiving covered with praise – God is an endless stream of mercy that never ceases, and in return we raise songs of praise and gratitude.
8. For the Beauty of the Earth
In this text the hymn writer gives thanks to God for the created order and for human relationships. In the first verse we give thanks to God for the beauty of the earth below and for the glorious sky above. In later verses we give thanks to God for our friends, our family, and the church body.
9. Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
This hymn is a joyous invitation for God’s children to gather and give thanks to God for the ways he provided for us. The hymn writer makes reference to the harvest season: “all is safely gathered in e’re the winter storms begin.” This hymn is also a reminder that God will continue to provide even during times of uncertainty. So, therefore, “Come, Ye Thankful People” and praise the Lord almighty!
10. Doxology (Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow)
Simple and to the point – God is the source of our blessings, therefore let all creatures here below and all heavenly hosts above praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen!
LISTEN to piano arrangements of these Thanksgiving hymns on my (you guessed it) “Thanksgiving Hymns” piano album!
