I imagine more than a few pastors fancy themselves to be would-be hymn writers. Count me in. Years ago, as a parish pastor, I worked up a hymn for a Thanksgiving Day worship service. The inspiration came from the early church father John of Chrysostom. It is said that his life’s motto and dying words were “God be praised for everything.”

Those words take “Now Thank We All Our God” to another level (see Daniel Sprain’s article). Those words reflect the apostle Paul’s instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances.” I share the hymn with you as another resource for giving thanks to God.

The Lord’s compassions and mercies are new every day (see Lamentations 3:22,23). For that, we praise him.

Thankful hearts we join today. God be praised for ev’rything.
Worship, sing, adore, and pray. God be praised for ev’rything.
For the love so faithful, true, for the mercies ever new,
For the goodness, all day through—God be praised for ev’rything.

“God surely gives daily bread without our asking, even to all the wicked, but we pray in this petition that he would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving” (Explanation of the Fourth Petition, The Lord’s Prayer, Luther’s Small Catechism). For our daily bread, we praise the Lord.

“Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.” God be praised for ev’rything.
“Let these gifts to us be blessed.” God be praised for ev’rything.
Praise the God who meets our needs. Praise the God who daily feeds.
Praise the God who safely leads. God be praised for ev’rything.

Is judgment day a reason for thanksgiving? For Christians, yes! We already know what the judge will say to us: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). For our eternal inheritance, we praise the Lord.

Jesus is our Savior dear. God be praised for ev’rything.
With the Lord there is no fear. God be praised for ev’rything.
All our sins are washed away. We will stand on judgment day.
So we think and live and say: “God be praised for ev’rything.”

“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3,4). From the Bible, Christians know and believe that God loves them dearly and has their best interests in mind even when troubles and difficulties arise. For that purposeful love, we praise the Lord.

Even when I suffer loss—God be praised for ev’rything.
Feel the pain or bear the cross—God be praised for ev’rything.
God’s good purpose I believe. His dear child I’ll always be.
Let the cry begin with me: “God be praised for ev’rything.”

John of Chrysostom is known best as “the golden-mouthed” preacher. His sermons and sermon delivery were legendary. More impressive, in my opinion, was his life’s motto and dying words. “God be praised for everything” is an appropriate refrain on Thanksgiving Day and every day of life.

(If you’re curious, I paired the words of the hymn with the tune SPANISH CHANT, adapted for use on Hymn 124 in Christian Worship 1993.)

James Pope | FIC Editor

Author: James Pope
Volume 112, Number 11
Issue: November 2025