10 Great Thanksgiving Songs by Contemporary Christian Artists

Autumn is my favorite time of year. Even in Texas, autumn has a warmth and beauty unlike the other seasons. It also has Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday.

Thanksgiving connects my loved ones in ways no other holiday can. We love, laugh and dine together as we cherish our blessings and remember their source.

Called a "holiday for all Americans," Thanksgiving offers something for everyone: great food, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, college football, Miracle on 34th Street and Black Friday, that harbinger of the Christmas shopping season.

For Christians, Thanksgiving is more than a feast of food, fellowship and football. It's a true family celebration that reminds us of God's faithfulness, provision and protection in our lives.

Thanksgiving is a good time to "count your blessings, name them one by one." More important, it's a time to praise God who is the source of all blessings. Thanksgiving is a public opportunity to honor God and recognize His hand at work in our lives.

Music is an important part of my family's Thanksgiving observance. Songs minister to our hearts in unique and profound ways. We gather together to sing praise on Thanksgiving and throughout the year. Here are ten of our favorite Christian songs of thanksgiving and praise.

Topping our list of Thanksgiving songs by comtemporary Christian artists is "Blessed be Your Name," by Matt Redman, an English songwriter and worship leader.

Many bands have covered this song. We like the version by Tree63, a South African praise and worship band. The "63" in their name makes reference to Psalm 63.

"Blessed be Your Name" speaks of abundance and praise:

Blessed be your name / In the land that is plentiful / Where your streams of abundance flow / Blessed be your name.

Every blessing you pour out / I'll turn back to praise.

"Doxology" is a short praise hymn to our triune God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Many Christians sing the doxology during or after a worship service. The tradition has its roots in a similar Jewish practice.

Many artists have recorded "Doxology" as a single or album track. We like the David Crowder recording.

The lyrics come from the last verse of "Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun." This longer hymn was written by Thomas Ken, a 17th century Anglican priest. Here are the words:

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow / Praise Him, all creatures here below / Praise Him above, ye heavenly host / Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

"Enough" expresses our sufficiency in Christ. It essentiall says, "Jesus is all I need." The song is popular in many contemporary worship services.

Chris Tomlin, an award winning Christian singer-songwriter, wrote "Enough." Other artists have covered the song, but we like the Tomlin version:

All of you is more than enough for all of me / For every thirst and every need / You satisfy me with your love / And all I have in You is more than enough.

What better way to sing our thanksgiving?

"For These Reasons" is a ballad by Lincoln Brewster, a Christian singer and guitarist. His words of thankfulness, adoration and love make this song the perfect choice for Thanksgiving celebrations:

For Your endless love / For the life You gave / For the second chance / For Your priceless grace / For Your healing hands / For the gift of peace / For the blessed hope / And for the faith to believe.

For these reasons, and for so many other rich and wonderful blessings, we praise and worship God our King.

"Forever" is another great Chris Tomlin song. Popular in worship services across the country, the song explores the themes of thanksgiving, celebration, faithfulness and assurance.

Do Tomlin's lyrics sound familiar? They grew out of Psalm 136:

Give thanks to the Lord, our King and God / His love endures forever / For He is good, He is above all things / His love endures forever / Sing praise, sing praise.

"The Only Thing that's Beautiful in Me" is a new way to celebrate Thanksgiving. The song is an offering from Rush of Fools, a relatively new band in contemporary Christian music.

Addressing the beauty and blood of Jesus Christ, the song draws inspiration from Psalm 30:

Just like a mountain peak / You lift me up / Just like a desert stream / You fill my cup / And like a heart that beats / You are the blood that covers me / You cover me.

As sinners in a fallen world, we are so grateful for the covering of Jesus Christ. How can we express our thanks to God? Simply, like the song: "Thank you, Lord, thank you."

"Thank You" is a popular ballad from Hillsong, an Australian worship band known worldwide for its praise and worship music. It's a song of thanks, praise, honor and glory to Jesus:

Thank You for Your kindness / Thank You for Your mercy / Thank You for the cross / Thank You for the price you paid ...

Thank You for salvation / Thank You for unending grace / Thank You for Your hope / Thank You for this life You gave.

"Thank You For Saving Me" is a ballad by Delirious, an English band formerly called The Cutting Edge Band.

The song is an appropriate selection for Thanksgiving and Easter celebrations. As the title implies, it follows the themes of thanksgiving and salvation:

Mercy and grace are mine, forgiven is my sin / Jesus my only hope, the Saviour of the world / "Great is the Lord" we cry / God let your kingdom come / Your word has let me see / Thank you for saving me!

"Thank You, Lord" is a little different from the other songs on our list, with its upbeat country style.

Don Moen's recording is a good one, but we like the Paul Baloche version. It's the perfect song of gratitude and praise for a family Thanksgiving celebration:

I come before You today, and there's just one thing that I want to say / Thank You, Lord, thank You, Lord for all You've given to me, for all the blessings that I cannot see.

"This is How We Know" rounds out our list of ten great thanksgiving songs by contemporary Christian artists.

Matt Redman's beautiful offering is a song of love, sacrifice and salvation. While not officially a "thanksgiving song," it certainly expresses the best reason to give thanks to God:

For You so loved the world / That You gave Your only Son / Love amazing, so divine / We will love You in return ...

For this life that You give / For this death that You have died / Love amazing, so divine / We will love You in reply, Lord.

Copyright © 2010. Annette R. Smith. All rights reserved.

Published: November 10, 2010 / Modified: January 17, 2012.

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