The Thanksgiving season provides time to reflect on our need to express gratitude. For many Christians, the time also grants an opportunity to reflect on God’s Word.
According to Lifeway Research, 67 percent of Americans say they give thanks to God at Thanksgiving, statistically even with family (68 percent).
Scripture readers seem to prefer to spend more time in the Psalms during the last two weeks of November than any other book of the Bible, according to statistics from YouVersion‘s popular Bible app.
Of the 10 most read verses around Thanksgiving from each of the past five years, 17 are from Psalms; four are in 1 John; and three are in Numbers, Proverbs, Hebrews, and James, while 1 Chronicles, Jeremiah, Romans, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, and 3 John have two each.
In three of the past five years, a verse from Psalms has been the most popular among YouVersion Bible app users.
Of all the verses to make the top 10 since 2018, 29 are Old Testament and 21 are New Testament references. Verses from the New Testament occupied the top two spots in 2022, the first time that’s happened in the past five years.
Eight verses or passages appeared in the top 10 at least twice since 2018. Here are the most popular verses among Bible app users during Thanksgiving. Each reference is from the Christian Standard Bible.
- Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the LORD is good, and his faithful love endures forever;
his faithfulness, through all generations.
- Numbers 6:24-26
May the Lord bless you and protect you;
may the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
may the Lord look with favor on you
and give you peace.
- Psalm 91:1-2
The one who lives under the protection of the Most High
dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust.
- 1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
- Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
- 3 John 2
Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your whole life is going well.
- 1 John 4:18-19
There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love. We love because he first loved us.
- Psalm 119:2
Happy are those who keep his decrees
and seek him with all their heart.
Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash
