How to Keep Your Soul Connected to God’s Goodness

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. (1 Chronicles 16:34)

In America, Thanksgiving has gradually shifted from being a sacred altar to a simple table. It’s transitioned from gratitude toward God to overeating. Thanksgiving is not just a seasonal event we observe every fall; it reflects how we should live year-round.

Thanksgiving is at the core of who we are called to be. As believers, our lives should be focused on thanking and praising God.

If you don’t center your life on gratitude, your heart will tend to lean toward entitlement, complaint, or fear. Thanksgiving isn’t just an emotion you feel when things go well; it’s a mindset you adopt regardless of your circumstances. Thanksgiving keeps the soul connected to God’s goodness.

The Hebrew word for “thanks” here expresses the idea of openly acknowledging, confessing, and declaring. This is not quiet, internal gratitude. It is a spoken alignment that acknowledges God’s goodness in our lives. When you start your day with thanksgiving, you remind your soul of who God is before the enemy tries to magnify what’s wrong.

Thanksgiving serves as the lens through which we see everything in our lives. It keeps you both humble and confident. You remember that God shows up when you’re not smart or strong enough, and you can trust that God will give you mercy and power to overcome whatever comes against you now. That’s an important reason to praise first thing in the morning. When you start your day with praise, you are calibrating your soul before the noise begins and the attacks come.

Practical Application

Train yourself to praise God before fear can emerge. Offer thanks before doubt voices itself. When pressure increases, make it a priority to respond swiftly with praise when you're tempted to panic.

1 Chronicles 16:8; 2 Samuel 22:50