Thank God: Becoming More Grateful to the Greatest of Givers

by Reuben Bredenhof

What do you have that you did not receive? With this searching question, Reuben Bredenhof invites readers to experience a life of genuine thanksgiving. In nine short chapters, you will learn how acknowledging God’s gracious provision is the key to joy, now and forever. Rather than offering trite self-help strategies, Bredenhof helps us develop the holy habit of thankfulness to the true Giver of all things. This focus on God’s kindness offers us hope amidst our suffering and trials. Read Thank God to learn how gratitude is the beginning of a Christian’s eternal joy. “Alcoholics Anonymous and psychologists tell us frequently that thankfulness is key to mental health. But whom do we thank? And why? You can’t just command people to be grateful. What this book does so beautifully is to hold up before us the riches of God’s kindness in Christ so that we can be driven by gratitude instead of guilt. This book is a refreshing and exhilarating tour of the triune God ‘from whom all blessings flow.’” ―Michael Horton, professor of theology, Westminster Seminary California, and host of White Horse Inn

Genres: Theology, Christianity

138 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2023

About the author

For eighteen years Reuben served as a pastor to congregations in Canada and Australia. He became the Professor of Ministry and Mission at the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 2023. He has authored several books, including 'The Ministry of Small Things: Wisdom for Those Who Serve the Church,' 'Thank God: Becoming More Grateful to the Greatest of Givers,' and 'Weak Pastor, Strong Christ.' He is married to Rebecca and they have been blessed with four daughters. He enjoys pounding the pavement on his morning jogs near their home in Hamilton while thinking about where to put more bookshelves.

Reviews

[Grant Hohlbein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book to drive home the necessity of giving thanks to God in all circumstances. Hope to see gratitude more in my DNA!

[Frances Lary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written book. It’s a short and simple read that offers a small reflection for the reader at the end of each chapter. I personally appreciated how the author encouraged me to examine my life and consider who God is: a gracious Father, and the source of all I have and all I am even when I do not deserve Him.

Instead of pointing to me, myself, & I like most self-help books, the author points to Christ. And isn’t that part of the whole point of living for Christ? Daily recognizing our greatest need for Him alone, and how He, Himself, truly is the greatest gift He has given us. As the author beautifully reminds us, “God is ours, and we are His.” Jesus is someone to be deeply thankful for.

The author doesn’t make things cheesy by saying “do this or that” or giving a checklist of personal goals merely saying just be grateful. Instead, he points solely to Christ, Who is the reason we are to be thankful in the good, in the grief, in the darkness, in the joy, and even when we simply do not know what tomorrow holds.

This book not only explains the importance of being thankful as a believer in every season, but it also offers gracious conviction by highlighting how we may idolize certain things or people such as spouses, jobs, etc. that we claim to be thankful for.

The author includes quotes from Charles Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Tim Keller, John Piper, and more, along with Scripture, adding depth and weight to what it means to live a thankful life for God.

Overall, it’s a beautiful book and a good read for anyone. What a gift it is to have Christ and to be thankful for Him.
I could share so many of the quotes I enjoyed and treasured from this book, but I’ll leave this review with a “Puritan prayer that captures the breadth and depth of God’s gifts toward us:

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it,
sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness, for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to thy creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity”

(May I always remember to be thankful for God, the things, & people He brings into my life. careful not to idolize or forget gratitude. & May I always look forward to what is set before me, whatever may come, with gratitude knowing God is mine and I am His.)

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reuben Bredenhof’s Thank God provides a compelling overview of the importance of thanksgiving in the Christian’s life. Bredenhof’s writing is pastoral and compassionate to the Christian reader, yet he does not sugarcoat the sinfulness of the reader in their ungratefulness.

Bredenhof reinforces his themes through the use of relevant scriptures, quotations from notable theologians and pastors, stories from Christians, and well documented footnotes.

Thank God is refreshingly practical without compromising on the doctrinal. He provides clear practical ways to grow in thankfulness to God. His use of the recurring refrain, “what do you have that you did not receive?” urges the Christian to practically implement thankfulness into their devotional time, prayer life, and everyday actions.

[Kelsey Fortin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Short and easily digestible. It’s filled with scripture and quotes from other pastors and theologians. There’s so much practical application, this book will certainly help deepen and develop the habit of thankfulness to God - who is deserving of our unceasing gratitude now and for eternity!

[Tara-Lee Oostenbrug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! So many good reminders to focus on thankfulness and how that looks in daily life! Really easy to read. It gets 5 stars from me because it’s the first book from a Reformed minister that didn’t put me to sleep and was actually engaging and applicable! Definitely recommend!

[Tj VanBrederode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bookclub study book. We know it, but do we live it? Thankfulness is often taken for granted. We should be able to find thankfulness even in the "evil" the troubles of life. Reframe what is difficult.