Across generations, public moments of prayer and thanksgiving have shaped how many people understand national identity and responsibility. Whether one looks at early proclamations or later seasons of national hardship, the consistent theme is simple: gratitude toward God is meant to be expressed, not assumed. It keeps perspective steady and prevents freedom from turning into entitlement.

At its core, this kind of reflection isn’t just about looking backward—it’s about asking what we do with what we’ve been given today. Gratitude becomes a posture that influences how we live, serve, and treat one another right now.

Highlights:
Scripture invites believers to actively remember and proclaim God’s works
Gratitude is a stabilizing force in how we view history and present blessings
Public and personal thanksgiving have long shaped spiritual and cultural identity
Freedom carries responsibility, not just privilege
Remembering God’s faithfulness helps anchor perspective in the present

Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/

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Full Transcript Below:

A Call to Be Thankful for America on Its 250th Anniversary

By Lynette Kittle

Bible Reading:

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.” - Psalm 105:1

As America celebrates its 250th Anniversary, we, as citizens of the United States, have much to be thankful for!

History books record, and historical monuments stand, in honor of the Christians whom God led across the ocean, who were seeking a land where they could freely and openly serve Him, those willing to leave all they had behind and risk their lives to set sail for a New World.

As the forerunners, the Pilgrims’ trek led them to America, where they brought their deep spiritual convictions to lay the groundwork and foundational biblical beliefs; truths that led our Founding Fathers to base our Declaration of Independence on godly principles; and truths that have given us the right to worship God freely and without reserve since their coming.

Without our founders humbling themselves before God, there would be no USA today.

As American history records, prayer and fasting were called for and practiced in America’s founding and the establishment of our nation, playing a major role in establishing America by the first patriots who practiced James 4:10 on a national level: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

By our leaders calling our nation to humble itself before God in prayer and fasting, our founders followed 2 Chronicles 7:14, urging, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

By humbling ourselves as a nation, our leaders seemed to understand what Galatians 5:13 reminds us: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

America’s History Reveals Decades of National Thankfulness

Even before the official establishment of the United States, historical documents record that, throughout the American Revolution, the Continental Congress, in response to winning critical battles, called for national days of Thanksgiving, asking colonists to express gratitude to God for His divine protection over the troops.

After the Declaration of Independence, national thanksgiving continued, beginning in 1789, with President George Washington issuing the first official United States Thanksgiving proclamation, calling upon all Americans to demonstrate gratitude to God for the end of the war and the Constitution’s successful ratification. 

President Washington said, “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

Following Washington’s example, Presidents John Adams and James Madison also called for national days of Thanksgiving during their presidential terms.

As well, President Abraham Lincoln, on October 3, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.

A Nation’s Living Testament to God’s Faithfulness 

The United States is a living testament to God’s faithfulness and to what happens when a nation is willing to humble itself before God… recognizing His sovereignty over the earth and publicly thanking Him for His protection and provision for its leaders and people.

As citizens of the USA, we have much to be thankful to God for our nation, as we celebrate our 250th anniversary. 

Thankfulness to God for what He has done in America through the faith of our Founding Fathers, who feared and worshipped Him and laid a godly foundation for our land based on biblical truth, and whose beliefs continue to this day across our nation.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, ask God to help you find reasons to be thankful for our country, our godly heritage, and the freedoms we still enjoy today. As well, ask the Lord to move in the hearts of people across our nation, encouraging them to praise and thank Him for all that He has done for us as a country.

Further Reading:

A Prayer to Praise God for Our Nation

 

Across generations, public moments of prayer and thanksgiving have shaped how many people understand national identity and responsibility. Whether one looks at early proclamations or later seasons of national hardship, the consistent theme is simple: gratitude toward God is meant to be expressed, not assumed. It keeps perspective steady and prevents freedom from turning into entitlement.
At its core, this kind of reflection isn&rsquo;t just about looking backward&mdash;it&rsquo;s about asking what we do with what we&rsquo;ve been given today. Gratitude becomes a posture that influences how we live, serve, and treat one another right now.
Highlights:
<ul data-start="913" data-end="1288">
<li data-section-id="1bat507" data-start="913" data-end="990">Scripture invites believers to actively remember and proclaim God&rsquo;s works</li>
<li data-section-id="c30x2f" data-start="991" data-end="1072">Gratitude is a stabilizing force in how we view history and present blessings</li>
<li data-section-id="1pkfuye" data-start="1073" data-end="1158">Public and personal thanksgiving have long shaped spiritual and cultural identity</li>
<li data-section-id="ohq0et" data-start="1159" data-end="1213">Freedom carries responsibility, not just privilege</li>
<li data-section-id="q7vzv1" data-start="1214" data-end="1288">Remembering God&rsquo;s faithfulness helps anchor perspective in the present</li>
</ul>
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: <a href="https://forums.crosswalk.com/">https://forums.crosswalk.com/</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
A Call to Be Thankful for America on Its 250th Anniversary
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.&rdquo; - Psalm 105:1
As America celebrates its 250th Anniversary, we, as citizens of the United States, have much to be thankful for!
History books record, and historical monuments stand, in honor of the Christians whom God led across the ocean, who were seeking a land where they could freely and openly serve Him, those willing to leave all they had behind and risk their lives to set sail for a New World.
As the forerunners, the Pilgrims&rsquo; trek led them to America, where they brought their deep spiritual convictions to lay the groundwork and foundational biblical beliefs; truths that led our Founding Fathers to base our Declaration of Independence on godly principles; and truths that have given us the right to worship God freely and without reserve since their coming.
Without our founders humbling themselves before God, there would be no USA today.
As American history records, prayer and fasting were called for and practiced in America&rsquo;s founding and the establishment of our nation, playing a major role in establishing America by the first patriots who practiced James 4:10 on a national level: &ldquo;Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.&rdquo;
By our leaders calling our nation to humble itself before God in prayer and fasting, our founders followed 2 Chronicles 7:14, urging, &ldquo;If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.&rdquo;
By humbling ourselves as a nation, our leaders seemed to understand what Galatians 5:13 reminds us: &ldquo;You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.&rdquo;
America&rsquo;s History Reveals Decades of National Thankfulness
Even before the official establishment of the United States, historical documents record that, throughout the American Revolution, the Continental Congress, in response to winning critical battles, called for national days of Thanksgiving, asking colonists to express gratitude to God for His divine protection over the troops.
After the Declaration of Independence, national thanksgiving continued, beginning in 1789, with President George Washington issuing the first official United States Thanksgiving proclamation, calling upon all Americans to demonstrate gratitude to God for the end of the war and the Constitution&rsquo;s successful ratification.&nbsp;
President Washington said, &ldquo;Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.&rdquo;
Following Washington&rsquo;s example, Presidents John Adams and James Madison also called for national days of Thanksgiving during their presidential terms.
As well, President Abraham Lincoln, on October 3, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.
A Nation&rsquo;s Living Testament to God&rsquo;s Faithfulness&nbsp;
The United States is a living testament to God&rsquo;s faithfulness and to what happens when a nation is willing to humble itself before God&hellip; recognizing His sovereignty over the earth and publicly thanking Him for His protection and provision for its leaders and people.
As citizens of the USA, we have much to be thankful to God for our nation, as we celebrate our 250th anniversary.&nbsp;
Thankfulness to God for what He has done in America through the faith of our Founding Fathers, who feared and worshipped Him and laid a godly foundation for our land based on biblical truth, and whose beliefs continue to this day across our nation.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, ask God to help you find reasons to be thankful for our country, our godly heritage, and the freedoms we still enjoy today. As well, ask the Lord to move in the hearts of people across our nation, encouraging them to praise and thank Him for all that He has done for us as a country.
Further Reading:
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-daily-prayer/a-prayer-to-praise-god-for-our-nations-birth.html">A Prayer to Praise God for Our Nation</a>
&nbsp;

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

A Call to Be Thankful for America on Its 250th Anniversary 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/48558edc-73e6-467e-a6bd-b47801147c3c/transcript