For Charles Spurgeon, life was to be lived coram Deo, “in the presence of God.” Indeed, Spurgeon believed that “no joy is like the joy of Christ’s presence with his people.” A presence sweet enough to “[drown] every note of sorrow” and tune every heart “to the loudest notes of thankfulness.”
Spurgeon believed it was “a heavenly thing to be thankful.” After all, it was gratitude which “ought to teach us the divine object of grace.” Accordingly, he longed for his heart to burn with the “sacred flame of thankfulness.”
For the world being happy was a prerequisite to being grateful, but Spurgeon knew that “God’s people are always happy when they are grateful” to Him. In fact, Spurgeon was so certain he said, “We should be ten times more full of bliss if we were proportionately more full of thankfulness.”
For Spurgeon, living with thankfulness was an all-encompassing commitment. Whether for richer or for poorer, even in sickness and in health. Indeed, he would often remind his congregation that “you have received all you have from God the Father through Christ.” This truth made every enjoyment an avenue for God glorifying gratitude.
Thus, in all “our eating, our drinking,” and “social meetings” Spurgeon claimed “we should give thanks unto God the Father.” The same “Father of Lights” from whom all blessings did, and do, indeed flow.
But gracious gratitude was not to be limited by the circumstances of this life. To make his point Spurgeon reminded his congregation of the story of a poor “godly preacher,” who one evening could only offer his children a dinner consisting of “a potato and a herring.” Nonetheless, the preacher “thanked God that he had ransacked sea and land to find food for his children.” Truly, the God who fed the sparrows and the ravens would not forget his people.
Indeed, while God’s temporal provision was a sweet blessing, his eternal provision of salvation through Jesus Christ was beyond comparison. Even after pastoring for many years, Spurgeon still marveled that “God should condescend to make a covenant with man, and ordain faith in Jesus as the great way of obtaining reconciliation.”
Spurgeon believed that the substitutionary, penal, atoning death of Christ on the cross provided Christians cause for “daily adoration and hourly thankfulness.” In Spurgeon’s view, “since Jesus has loved us so well,” it was impossible not to “give to him all that we are, and all that we have.” As a result, Spurgeon challenged his church to “let your gratitude compel you to do everything for Jesus.”
There is much in life for which to be thankful. Family, friends, food, and the changing color of the fall leaves are sweet gifts to be savoured and enjoyed. But, the best gift to be thankful for is Jesus Christ. This Thanksgiving Spurgeon would have us contemplate Christ and let Christ “flood the whole of [our] faculties” with thankfulness.
From all of us at The Spurgeon Library, Blessed Thanksgiving!
Phillip Ort, Director of The Spurgeon Library
Source: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/blog-entries/giving-thanks-with-charles-haddon-spurgeon/
A Short Biography of Charles Spurgeon: The Life and Times of Charles H. Spurgeon
I know I’m a bit early here but I haven’t posted for quite some time. I do have posts backed up so I hope to be more active in the near future.
May God bless each of you this Thanksgiving as we think of our great God and His amazing love.
Chris Reimers
Posted by Chris 
Wings of the Wind 
Coneflower June 2026
June 15, 20267 “So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” -1 Corinthians 3
The words above were written to a young church in the city of Corinth. Paul, an instrument of the Holy Spirit, had also written:
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Corinth was already an ancient city when these words were written. It was an important commercial center with two harbors and had long been a rival to Athens which is about 50 miles to the East. Corinth had a reputation for sexual immorality. It was permitted under the widely popular worship of Aphrodite (also known as Venus, the goddess of fertility and sexuality).
The message in 1 Corinthians is clear. Even if the death and resurrection of Jesus is unimportant to the world, it is at the center of the Christian message. The words in this letter were particularly powerful for a new group of believers struggling to let go of worldly things and learning to follow Jesus.
So, how is it dear friend that you are able to let go of worldly things?
If you are trying to do it in your own strength, may I suggest that you are going about it the wrong way?
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
We must remain in Him. Read God’s Word for the strength to help you through what you are facing. Continue in His Word.
The Bible says: “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is verse that Christians lean upon heavily.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to understand what God would have you learn as you read the scriptures.
May God bless you as you continue on.
Chris Reimers
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