Thanksgiving Day: Obligations, Prayers & Gratitude
Elias Bejjani/October 13, 2025
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Every year, on the second Monday of October, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving Day — a blessed and joyful occasion deeply rooted in faith, gratitude, and humility. It is a day when families and friends gather to thank Almighty God for the countless blessings He has poured upon them — the gift of life, the fruits of the earth, and the comfort of home and community.
Thanksgiving in Canada dates back hundreds of years, when early settlers and Indigenous peoples celebrated the harvest season by offering gratitude to the Creator for the abundance of food and the safety of their communities. Through time, this practice became a national celebration of thankfulness, generosity, and hope.
Let us never forget that we have a holy obligation to continuously and joyfully thank Almighty God for His love, His mercy, and His everlasting grace. Gratitude is not a passing emotion; it is a spiritual discipline that purifies the soul and draws us closer to God. A thankful heart is a humble heart, one that recognizes every blessing as a divine gift, not a personal achievement.
On this day, while we celebrate with family and friends, let us look around and remember the millions of people across the world who live in deprivation and hardship — those who are hungry, displaced, persecuted, or alone. To truly appreciate what we have, we must first recognize how many are without.
Let us therefore pray with sincerity and reverence, thanking God for His generosity, and let us combine faith with good deeds, prayer with compassion, and gratitude with action. A true believer’s weapons against adversity are faith, honesty, righteousness, prayer, and trust in the Lord.
Let us pray for ongoing peace and prosperity in our beloved Canada — the land that welcomed us with open arms and provided us a home when we most needed it. Let us also pray for peace, freedom, and justice in our original homeland, Lebanon — the Land of the Holy Cedars — and for its persecuted and impoverished people who continue to suffer and hope.
Let us pray for the souls of Lebanon’s martyrs who sacrificed their lives defending their country’s dignity and independence. May their memory remain eternal.
Let us pray that Jesus Christ may bless Lebanon with faithful clergy and brave, righteous political leaders who fear God and act in accordance with His will.
Let us pray that all families may reunite in love, heal their wounds, and honor their parents with respect and gratitude.
As we lift our prayers today, let us trust that Almighty God always listens and responds — not always as we expect, but always in ways that fulfill His divine purpose.
May this Thanksgiving renew in each of us a spirit of humility, compassion, and generosity.
For when we thank God with sincere hearts, His blessings are renewed, multiplied, and everlasting.
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.”(2 Timothy 3:1-2)
Those who live without gratitude fall into spiritual darkness, but those who give thanks live in light. Gratitude keeps our hearts alive, our faith strong, and our lives filled with peace.
Happy Thanksgiving Day to all!
May the Lord bless Canada and Lebanon, and may He fill every heart with thankfulness, peace, and love.
Selected Biblical Verses on Gratitude
“As long as you live and have breath, give thanks to the Lord and praise His mercy.” (Sirach 17:27)
“We give God great thanks for saving us from great dangers.” (2 Maccabees 1:11)
“If you and your children are well and everything you wish is as you desire, I give great thanks to God; my hope is in Heaven.” (2 Maccabees 9:20)
“Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.” (Psalm 118:19)
“Before the angels I will sing your praise; I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness.” (Psalm 138:1–2)
“Be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)
“We thank God without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
“I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience.” (2 Timothy 1:3)
“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20)
“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:12)
“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
“I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.” (Romans 1:8)
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
“Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and manifests through us the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.” (Colossians 1:3)
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2)
“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.” (1 Thessalonians 1:2)
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3)
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service.” (1 Timothy 1:12)
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1–2)
“Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 7:12)
“We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.” (Revelation 11:17)
This Is What Many Canadians Do On Thanksgiving Day?
Many people have a day off work on the second Monday of October. They often use the three-day Thanksgiving weekend to visit family or friends who live far away, or to receive them in their own homes. Many people also prepare a special meal to eat at some point during the long weekend. Traditionally, this included roast turkey and seasonal produce, such as pumpkin, corn ears and pecan nuts. Now, the meal may consist of other foods, particularly if the family is of non-European descent.
The Thanksgiving weekend is also a popular time to take a short autumn vacation. This may be the last chance in a while for some people to use cottages or holiday homes before winter sets in. Other popular activities include outdoor breaks to admire the spectacular colors of the Canadian autumn, hiking, and fishing. Fans of the teams in the Canadian Football League may spend part of the weekend watching the Thanksgiving Day Classic matches.
Background
The native peoples held ceremonies and festivals to celebrate the completion and bounty of the harvest long before European explorers and settlers arrived in what is now Canada. Early European thanksgivings were held to give thanks for some special fortune. An early example is the ceremony the explorer Martin Frobisher held in 1578 after he had survived the long journey in his quest to find a northern passage from Europe to Asia. Many thanksgivings were held following noteworthy events during the 18th century. Refugees fleeing the civil war in the United States brought the custom of an annual thanksgiving festival to Canada. From 1879, Thanksgiving Day was held every year but the date varied and there was a special theme each year. The theme was the “Blessings of an abundant harvest” for many years. However, Queen Victoria’s golden and diamond jubilees and King Edward VII’s coronation formed the theme in later years.
From the end of the First World War until 1930, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving Day were celebrated on the Monday closest to November 11, the anniversary of the official end of hostilities in World War I. In 1931, Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day and Thanksgiving Day was moved to a Monday in October. Since 1957, Thanksgiving Day has always been held on the second Monday in October.
