God’s command to praise him for his blessings can be fulfilled in countless ways. But as you gather for a Thanksgiving meal this week, you may find yourself praying these familiar words,

Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest
and let these gifts to us be blessed.

As a little girl, I remember the taunting aroma of the food while we said the common table prayer. My Grandma made wonderful Greek food at Thanksgiving. Spinach pie. Orange bread. Salad with feta cheese that made my tongue tingle. I remember praying rather casually, thinking mostly about how good the food would be.

Now I’m the Grandma, and I’ve grown up a little.

It delights me to fill my table with amazing dishes, but when we join in the common table prayer, I’m not distracted by the food. I’m thankful for the gift of food but I’m mostly praying for the people in the seats. They are the priceless gifts that I want to be blessed by God. As my family gathers, I’m overcome with the joy of knowing that Jesus is our guest. His grace, planted in our hearts through baptism, continues to be nurtured by the Word of God.

Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
His mercy endures forever.

God’s mercy has endured, giving salvation to families for generations. As your loved ones gather this Thanksgiving, Jesus will be with you. May you be blessed with love for one another and love for Jesus.

But if there are troubled or wandering souls at your table, you can still give thanks—because God is good, and his mercy endures forever. He longs to save the lost and is working to draw people to himself, even as they sit at your table. Jesus is the gracious guest who comes to extend his love forever—and he shows his love to others through you.

Table prayers are a clear reminder of God’s presence, provision, and gift of mercy. May those who join you for the holidays hear the beautiful testimony and humble plea for God’s enduring mercy.