10 Simple Ways to Keep Christ at the Heart of Thanksgiving

Inside: Keep Thanksgiving centered on Christ with these 10 simple, meaningful ways to celebrate with gratitude, peace, and joy in Him.

My favorite celebration of Thanksgiving is almost here, and as I’ve been planning for our family, I wanted to share how we’ve simplified the day over the years. We’ve learned to keep ours Christ-centered and to point to the goodness and kindness of our God in redeeming us as His children.

This season reminds us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). As believers, that should be our heart’s desire every day, but sometimes it can be hard to keep the right focus. It can be especially challenging during the holidays when there’s so much to plan and prepare. I know I can easily get distracted. When that happens, my attitude starts to shift. I might become impatient, overwhelmed, or find myself grumbling under my breath. And in those moments, I realize I’ve forgotten God.

My prayer this Thanksgiving is that we would keep our hearts fixed on Christ and do all things as unto Him. That we would find joy in serving, love others well, and let His great love for us move us to live with thankful hearts—not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day.

Quick Links in the Post:

• 10 Simple Ways to Keep Christ at the Heart of Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving Resources
• FAQ’s Keeping Christ at the Center of Our Thanksgiving

10 Simple Ways to Keep Christ at the Heart of Thanksgiving

1. Begin with Gratitude to the Lord

Before the busyness of the day begins, take time to meet with the Lord. Open His Word and read a short Psalm of thanksgiving before you start your day. Psalm 100 is a beautiful place to begin.

Pray for a grateful spirit and ask Him to help you see every task as an opportunity to serve Him. Gratitude turns ordinary moments—like peeling potatoes or setting the table—into acts of worship.

2. Choose a Simple, Repeatable Menu

Because this meal only comes once a year, I’ve learned to keep it simple. Our family looks forward to the same menu every Thanksgiving—turkey (and a little ham for the non-turkey folks), stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, sautéed green beans, gravy, rolls, pumpkin pie, chocolate pie, and pumpkin bars for my father-in-love.

I keep a master grocery list divided into perishables and non-perishables in my planner, and because it doesn’t change much each year, it’s easy to update. I shop for non-perishables a week ahead and perishables a couple of days before. This rhythm has made such a difference. It simplifies the planning and gives me more time to enjoy the day and the people I love.

3. Let People Help

When someone offers to bring a dish, I try to say yes. Having a list of suggestions ready makes it easy to delegate, and it blesses others to contribute. It’s also a gentle reminder that Thanksgiving is about community and gratitude, not perfection. Some of our family favorites came from dishes that someone else brought one year and we’ve kept ever since.

I even keep a list of tasks I can delegate if others ask how they can help. I’m not naturally good at delegating, so it helps to think ahead a bit and have something ready to hand off.

4. Keep Traditions That Point to Christ

Think about ways to keep Christ at the center of your Thanksgiving season:

• Set out a gratitude jar or notebook where family members can jot down something they’re thankful for each day.
• Pray together as a family about how you might serve others. Maybe invite someone who would otherwise be alone to join your table (think of your singles or widows at church).
• Encourage everyone to write a short thank-you note to someone they appreciate.
• During your meal, take a moment for each person to share one way they’ve seen God’s goodness this year.
• Read a short passage of Scripture or a Psalm together before the meal, and pray as a family, thanking God for His many blessings.
• Leland Ryken’s book A Treasure of Thanksgiving has been such a loved resource in celebrating the day with our family.

Small, simple practices like these draw our hearts back to the Lord and remind everyone that Jesus is the reason we give thanks.

5. Encourage Christ-Centered Conversations

I love having conversation starter cards on the table. They help everyone slow down, listen, and reflect on God’s goodness. You can write them on the back of place cards or keep them in a little basket to pass around.

Here are a few favorites:

• Who is the most grateful person you know and why?
• What’s your favorite Thanksgiving memory?
• What does “give thanks” mean to you?
• What has God taught you about gratitude this year?

These questions open sweet opportunities to share testimonies of God’s faithfulness and, when the Lord leads, to gently point conversations toward the gospel.

Thanksgiving isn’t just a day on the calendar. It’s a posture of the heart that gives glory to God in all things. Click to Tweet

6. Love the People in Front of You

It’s easy to get caught up in the details and miss the people right in front of us. Take time to enjoy the moments—pause for hugs, make eye contact when your children or grandchildren talk to you, and offer slow loving words instead of hurried ones.

Be generous with affection, laughter, and love. A calm, thankful heart changes the whole atmosphere of the home.

7. Simplify the Planning with a Thankful Heart

Before I plan anything, I try to begin with prayer and a heart of gratitude. A peaceful Thanksgiving doesn’t happen by accident—it takes thought and preparation.

Over the years, I put together my Thanksgiving Planning Guide to help make the process easier and to keep my focus on Christ in the midst of it all. It includes practical printables like:

• A Planning Ahead Checklist for each week in November
• Christ-Focused Dinnertime Ideas and Conversation Starters
• Quick Clean and Delegating Checklists
• Simple Centerpiece and Table Setting Ideas
• A Gratitude Journal and After-Thanksgiving Reflection Pages
• A favorite book of ours to use each year is A Treasury of Thanksgiving: Illustrated Poetry, Prose, and Praise by Leland Ryken. You can see all our family favorite Thanksgiving reads here.

I created it originally for myself so I wouldn’t start from scratch each year, but it’s become such a help that I wanted to share it with you too. You can find it in my here. It’s 25% off through the end of November, and if you use the link above, the code THANKFUL will already be applied for you.

8. Create a Peaceful Atmosphere in Your Home

A grateful heart shows up not only in what we say, but also in how we set the tone in our homes. Play soft music, light a few candles, and let your home reflect warmth and welcome. Even simple touches, like fresh flowers on the table, a handwritten place card, or your family’s favorite hymn playing in the background, can make the day feel special without adding stress.

Pray that your home would be a refuge of peace for everyone who enters.

9. Keep an Eye Toward the Gospel

If there are unbelieving family members or friends at your table, begin praying for them now. Ask the Lord to give you gentle, natural ways to share the hope of Christ.

You don’t need a formal presentation—your words of gratitude and the way you love and serve others can speak volumes. When the time feels right, share your testimony and be sure to include the gospel itself. God often uses ordinary family gatherings to plant seeds of faith.

10. End the Day with Reflection and Rest

When the last dish is washed and the house is quiet, take a few minutes to sit with the Lord. Write down a few memories, lessons, or things you’d like to simplify next year. If you’re using my Thanksgiving planner, there’s a space for this at the end. It’s always fun to look back and see how God has worked over the years.

Remember, Thanksgiving Day may end, but the season of gratitude never does. Scripture reminds us that giving thanks is the mark of a Spirit-filled believer (Ephesians 5:18–20). Colossians 3:15–16 ties thankfulness to the peace of Christ. And 1 Thessalonians 5:18 calls us to give thanks in all things because this is God’s will for us.

Thankfulness doesn’t come naturally, it’s something the Lord grows in us over time. It’s a habit of the heart that deepens as we walk with Him. The more thankful we become, the less room there is for grumbling, and the more joy we’ll find in His presence.

A Closing Thought

What am I most thankful for? Jesus—because He truly is enough, always.

I’m so grateful the Lord opened my eyes to the gift of salvation. It changed my heart, my home, and the way we celebrate this day. I’m thankful for His undeserved mercy and grace and pray I never grow tired of remembering that truth.

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Christ-Focused Thanksgiving Resources

If you’d like a few simple helps to keep your Thanksgiving celebration centered on the Lord, here are some of my favorites:

Browse My Favorite Thanksgiving Reads on Amazon

Thanksgiving Resources at the Blog

Thanksgiving Planning Guide

I put this Planning a Christ-Focused Thanksgiving Mini-Course to help me simplify planning and stay focused on what matters most. It includes printables like planning checklists, conversation starters, Christ-focused table ideas, gratitude pages, and more. Again, the code THANKFUL for 25% off until the end of November will automatically be applied when you click on the image below:

Scriptures for a Thankful Heart

• Psalm 100
• Colossians 3:15–17
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
• Ephesians 5:18–20
• Psalm 103:1–5

Questions About Keeping Christ at the Heart of Thanksgiving: