“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” (Psalm 95:2 NKJV) 

I had a near-disaster when I cooked Thanksgiving lunch over 30 years ago.

I don’t remember if it was the first turkey I ever cooked, but it was certainly the most important one up to that point. I was hosting my new boyfriend with his parents and really wanted to make a good impression on all of them.

There would be six of us (including my grandmother and uncle), so I planned for a large turkey breast. “This will be easy,” I thought, since it would be much smaller and faster to cook than a whole bird. I set it out to thaw in my refrigerator, according to the time listed on the packaging.

When I pulled the turkey breast out on Thanksgiving morning, I discovered it was still mostly frozen—my fridge must have kept it too cold. I threw it in the oven as fast as possible and cranked up the heat, hoping for a miracle. I had already heard that my boyfriend’s mom liked her turkey dinner very well done…and chances were high that this meat wouldn’t be done at all.

Halfway into the morning, I checked the pan in the oven. Things weren’t looking good…not roasting fast enough in my opinion. I despaired of having lunch ready when everyone arrived. If I prayed, it was for a small miracle.

And then, God provided one. As I knifed into the half-cooked turkey breast, it easily fell open into two parts. Apparently the store butcher had already cut this meat in halves, and I hadn’t noticed. The roasting went much faster, and the meat was nicely done and browned by the time we were all seated at the table…whew. 

It’s still one of the best Thanksgiving meals I’ve ever had. My boyfriend proposed a few months later, his parents became my in-laws, and his mom still talks about that first turkey together. 

I have no recollection as to who gave the blessing for our meal that year or the content of the prayer. Two of those present—my father-in-law-to-be and my uncle—were both pastors, so it was probably one of them. I’m sure I prayed silently with thanksgiving that our meal was not a flop. 

In the years since, my prayer life has grown significantly more active. God is faithful to hear His children, and He has answered my prayers often—usually not in my timing but according to His and according to His will.

We always need to pray with thanksgiving to God for His beauty, glory, love, and wondrous works, especially His gift of eternal life. But it’s not always easy, especially during the stress of the holidays.

Maybe you’re facing a difficult Thanksgiving this year. Illness, family conflicts, loss, and financial burdens can take their toll on your peace and joy. The Norman Rockwell weekend you desired could morph instead into a real-life version of “The Scream” by Edvard Munch.

How do you counter the anxiety sizzling in the air around you? Before you prepare for company or travel, read through a Psalm or two that focus on thankfulness (try Psalms 30, 100, and 107). Then pray with thanksgiving in advance for what God will provide, even if it’s for hard things. The apostle Paul reminded us to “pray without ceasing” and “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-19).

Here’s a prayer, too, you can use this Thanksgiving—either privately for yourself or printed for use at your Thanksgiving table—based on the “Lord’s Prayer”:

“O God our Father, we come to You with awe and thanksgiving today, rejoicing in all Your goodness to us. Your name is holy, beautiful, and undefiled. Let Your kingdom come among us, and let Your will be done, for Your glory. Lord, we are grateful for the ways You constantly provide for our needs and wants—we thank You now for the meal we are about to receive and for those who graciously prepared it. We thank You for Your words in the Bible and how they lead us and guide us. We thank You that You are the God of forgiveness, and we humbly ask You to pardon our wicked thoughts and deeds. Teach us how to forgive others, too, and give them the willingness to forgive us. Please, Lord, lead us away from temptations and deliver us from evil. Most of all, we thank You for Your abundant love, demonstrated to us on the cross of Christ. Bless our loved ones—our family and friends, near and far—and fill us up with Your joy until we are overflowing with it. Give us boldness, too, to share Your good news with others. Through Your power and glory, and in Jesus’ name, Amen.”*

May the Holy Spirit be present with you in the days ahead, and may you clearly see His hand at work in your life. I pray for you, my readers, as you bring your sacrifice of thankfulness to our God. May He fill you with His peace and comfort as He covers you with His banner of love. Happy Thanksgiving!

Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom. 

© Copyright 2025 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #thanksgiving #thanks #thankfulness #banneroflove #thanksgivingprayer #blessingforthanksgiving

*Print this image, if you wish, to pray at your Thanksgiving meal: