Give Thanks • Music for a Christ-Centered Thanksgiving

November is upon us again! And if you have gotten to know my family & I through this little blog over the years, you know that Thanksgiving is a big deal to us. For years it has always frustrated me that Halloween and Christmas have started to encroach upon each other so much that Thanksgiving is often an after thought-- a blip in the radar between two huge commercial holidays.

Now, as much as I love Christmas music, for a long time I have been searching out music that would help my kids and I focus on our blessings and all that we have to be grateful for during this time of year. For the past couple of years I have created playlists that we have listened to throughout the month, and it has been an amazing addition to our season of gratitude. Christmas music will be played in full force here in our home-- but starting the day after Thanksgiving.

This year I have more than doubled the size of the playlist, expanding it from a little over 40 tracks to now more than 80. That adds up to over five hours worth of music!

It goes without saying that taste in music is entirely subjective, but I hope that some of these songs will appeal to you and your family as well. The playlist includes a mix of indie, folk, and contemporary Christian music that is especially appropriate for this time of year. Some songs speak directly of giving thanks and gratitude, some are traditional folk songs associated with this time of year, some are bluegrass hymns with a rustic nature that just seems to suit the season, and others are simply more general in their praise of God and all the blessings He freely bestows to His children.  Collectively, all of them have helped our family keep the focus in our home on giving thanks at this special time of year.

(If you are reading this post on an RSS feed reader, please be aware that there is a widget link to my Spotify playlist on my site which will allow you to listen to the entire playlist for free. You can also search Spotify for the playlist "give thanks.")

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If you don't want to create a Spotify account, here is a list of the tracks (via affiliate links) on my playlist if you are curious:

Simple Gifts - Steven Sharp Nelson

Come On - Rend Collective Experiment

This is the Day - Rachel Scott

For the Beauty of the Earth - Steve & Danny Thompson

My Father's World - Jadon Lavik

The Harvester - Brandon Heath

Down to the River to Pray - Alison Krauss

Anchored in Love - Jenny & Tyler

Come Ye Thankful People Come - Leigh Nash

Starry Night (Acoustic Version) - Chris August

How Great Thou Art - Lindsey Kane

Come Thou Fount - Audrey Assad

Indescribable - Chris Tomlin

Live Out Loud (re:created version) - Steven Curtis Chapman

I Will Give Thanks - Josh Blakesley

Thanksgiving - George Winston

Pilgrim Go! - Cherie Call

Love Love Love - Daniel Renstrom

Count Your Blessings - The Lower Lights

Glory Bound - The Wailin' Jennys

Take My Hand (Analog Sessions Version) - Shawn McDonald

God of Wonders - By the Tree

My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness - Keith & Kristyn Getty

Hallelujah God is Near (Acoustic Version) - Robbie Seay Band

How He Loves (Acoustic Version) - David Crowder Band

Yes, God is Good - High Street Hymns ft. Robb Esperat

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty - Jon Meyer

How Could I Ever Say Thank You - Kathryn Scott

Psalm 118 - Shane & Shane

Yours Forever - Dara Maclean

Thank You - JJ Heller

Late November - Ryan Hubbell

Lead, Kindly Light - The Lower Lights

Blessed Be Your Name (Acoustic Version) - Matt Redman

Free to be Me (Dented Fender Sessions Version) - Francesca Battistelli

Hallelujah (Acoustic Version) - Bethany Dillon

Gratitude - Nichole Nordeman

We Gather Together - Tim Brace

How Can I Keep From Singing (Acoustic Version) - Chris Tomlin

Good to Me - Audrey Assad

10,000 Reasons - Rend Collective Experiment

From This Valley - The Civil Wars

A Mighty Fortress - Dave Hunt

It Is Well - The Ember Days

Flood Waters - Josh Garrels

Raise My Voice (Acoustic Version) - Robbie Seay Band

Blessings - Laura Story

Behind the Beauty - Josh Wilson

God of Our Fathers - Twila Paris

Home - The Piano Guys

Simple Gifts - Jewel

Come, Ye Children of the Lord - The Lower Lights

I'll Fly Away - Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss

All Creatures of our God and King - High Street Hymns

The Earth is Yours - Gungor

We Give Thanks - Caedmon's Call

One Thing Remains - Bethel Music ft. Brian Johnson

We Thank Thee, O God for a Prophet - The Lower Lights

Oh How I Need You - All Sons & Daughters

Doxology (Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow) - Jadon Lavik

Long Walk Home - The City Harmonic

Follow You - Leeland ft. Brandon Heath

We Fall Down - Shane Everett

Miracle of the Moment (Acoustic Version) - Steven Curtis Chapman

For Love of You - Audrey Assad

Now Thank We All Our God - Craig Duncan

Long Time Traveller - The Wailin' Jennys

Psalm 46 - Jenny & Tyler

Captivated (Analog Sessions Version) - Shawn McDonald

Enough (Acoustic Version) - Chris Tomlin

Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners - Matthew Smith

Your Love (Acoustic Version) - Brandon Heath

Build Your Kingdom Here - Rend Collective Experiment

Doxology - Michael Gungor

The Lord's Prayer - Shane & Shane

Fire By Night - Josh Garrels

Divine Romance - Phil Wickham

It Is Well With My Soul - Chris Rice

Homeward Bound - Ashlee Cook

My Heavenly Father Loves Me - Paul Cardall

What a Wonderful World - Stacey Kent

Amazing Grace - Jadon Lavik

Count Your Blessings - Ali Matthews

New World - Steven Sharp Nelson

Let this list stand as a starting point for you to create a Thanksgiving playlist of your own!

May God's blessings be with you and your loved ones this holiday season & always.

♥