Thanksgiving isn’t just about the meal—it’s about the preparation. Anyone who has ever cooked a turkey knows you can’t just toss it in the oven or smoker and expect a perfectly juicy bird. It takes intentionality. For the past few years, I have cooked our Thanksgiving turkey on our Kamado Joe smoker. Preparing a turkey on a Kamado Joe requires specific steps to ensure it’s ready to delight everyone at the table later in the day.
You defrost it well in advance, brine and season it, let it rest, heat your grill to just the right temperature, and monitor it carefully as it cooks. Without proper preparation, the centerpiece of the feast wouldn’t turn out right.
In the same way, preparing our hearts for Thanksgiving Day doesn’t happen by accident. Just as we carefully prepare the turkey to be a blessing for the table, we need to take steps to prepare our hearts to be ready for the feast of gratitude that God calls us to enjoy.
The Psalms offer the perfect recipe for prepping our hearts. By reflecting on who God is—His character—and what He has done—His works—we “season” our souls with reminders of His goodness, faithfulness, and power. When we take time to meditate on these truths, our hearts are primed to offer true thanksgiving, making the day more than just about food and family but a time of genuine worship and gratitude.
The Steps to Prepare the Turkey and Your Heart
Step 1: Defrost the Bird (or Your Heart)
Defrosting the turkey is essential—it can’t absorb flavor or cook properly if it’s frozen solid. Similarly, our hearts can’t overflow with thanksgiving if they’re frozen by busyness, stress, or distraction. Taking time to slow down and reflect on the Psalms “defrosts” our hearts, making them tender and receptive.
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.” (Psalm 92:1-2)
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)
Step 2: Brine and Season (Infuse Gratitude)
Brining or seasoning the turkey ensures it’s flavorful and moist. For our hearts, meditating on God’s character and works infuses gratitude into our lives. The Psalms season our hearts with reminders of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and power, ensuring our thanksgiving is rich and meaningful.
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 107:1)
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 9:1)
Step 3: Preheat the Grill (Prepare the Atmosphere)
You can’t cook a turkey properly without getting the Kamado Joe to just the right temperature. Similarly, preparing our hearts for thanksgiving requires setting the right atmosphere. This could mean spending time in prayer, reflecting on Scripture, or worshiping through song to “preheat” your spirit for a day of gratitude.
“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2)
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4)
Step 4: Monitor the Cook (Stay Attentive)
When the turkey is on the grill, you monitor the temperature and timing to ensure it doesn’t dry out or overcook. Thanksgiving is not a one-and-done activity; it requires ongoing attentiveness. As you go through your day, keep God’s blessings in focus and nurture your gratitude, allowing it to grow and deepen.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” (Psalm 28:7)
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1)
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy (Overflow with Gratitude)
When the turkey is ready, it becomes the centerpiece of the meal, something to savor and enjoy with everyone else. Similarly, when our hearts are prepared with thanksgiving, we find our ultimate joy and satisfaction in God, and our gratitude becomes a blessing we share with others.
“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.” (Psalm 63:5)
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)
Just as preparing a turkey takes time, effort, and intentionality, preparing our hearts for Thanksgiving Day involves reflecting on God’s character and His works, and there's no better place to do that than the Psalms. Let’s not rush into the day unprepared, but instead, let’s allow the Psalms to season our souls and prime us for the feast of gratitude.
A well-prepared heart, like a well-prepared turkey, will bless everyone at the table and glorify the One who is worthy of all thanks.
Thankful to God for each of you,
Steve