When it comes to “seeing the silver lining,” I can usually find the sparkle in snot. But for awhile last year, I was feeling down and jealous at home along with sluggish and discontent at work. Have you ever been there? We have a suggestion that can change your life, now!
When we commit to intentional gratefulness, there is a profound difference in how we see the world, how we feel, and the way we react.
This isn’t a new message to preach, especially if you watch daytime TV with Ellen, Oprah or Dr Oz. But knowing something and practicing it are very different! I know a plant-based diet is best for my body, but I like Double-Stuffed Oreos and Easy Mac too much to practice eating healthy all of the time!
Gratefulness is a muscle, that needs to be worked, just like self-control.
When you flex the "grateful muscle," there is scientific proof of reduced stress, improved sleep patterns, and the cultivation of positive emotions (here’s some research to prove it).
Count Your Blessings
I mean it, let’s count our blessings! Have you heard of the 21-day Gratitude Challenge? It’s been all over my Facebook feed and a topic of conversation for years.
It’s easy! Write down 3 things you’re grateful for each day for 21 days. Statistically, if you do this, your overall happiness will increase by 5% in a month and 9% in six months! Watch this BrainCraft Animation video for more information.
So, grab a notebook or open your phone’s notepad and start recording the things you’re grateful for today! (Remember to set a specific time and/or alarm for this 21-day Challenge.)
7 Effects of Practicing Gratitude
Why intentionally practice gratitude? Here are 7 key results that occur when we are grateful:
- Refocuses our eyes on God and His generosity instead of thinking only of ourselves and our wants.
- Reminds us there are many things we can’t control, but that we serve a sovereign God who can work out all things for our benefit.
- Recognize we have so much to be thankful for, even all of the little things!
- Reminds us that God is the Giver of all good gifts. We were never intended to be fully self-sufficient in this life. A grateful heart reminds us that, ultimately, God is our Provider. All blessings and gifts are graciously given to us by His hand.
- Removes a lot of complaining & negativity. It is impossible to be truly thankful and filled with negativity and ungratefulness at the same time.
- Repels evil. Forces of darkness can't stand to be around hearts that give thanks and honor to God.
- Renewed spirit in Christ, which opens up the door for continued blessings.
21 Bible Verses about Being Grateful
There's no better way to intentionally focus on gratitude than by spending time with God through His Word. Here are 21 Bible verses about gratitude to help you get started!
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. - Ps. 100:4-5
Did you know Psalm 100 is entitled “A Psalm of Thanksgiving”? This gratitude Bible verse shows us that despite all of David’s troubles, he still chose to praise and honor the Lord.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever. - Ps. 118:29
Psalm 118 was most likely sung at the creation of the Second Temple. It is believed that David wrote this Psalm in faith for when the future temple would be built. Singing praises to God was a common way that the Israelites showed gratitude in the Bible.
I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Ps. 9:1
The Psalms are full of gratitude Bible verses. Thanksgiving is as simple as telling God “Thank you” for what he has done. Can you think of something from today that you can thank God for?
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. Ps. 7:17
Gratitude in the Bible is often associated with remembering the character of God. Gratitude Bible verses usually give thanks for God’s steadfast love that endures forever (Psalm 136). Since God is love, we can also practice gratitude by honoring God for his patience, kindness, and gentleness.
Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Col. 2:7
Some of the most famous scriptures on being grateful were written by people who had every reason to be ungrateful. This gratitude Bible verse is in the book of Colossians, which was written from prison by the Apostle Paul.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Col. 3:15
This gratitude Bible verse provides another example of the biblical meaning of gratitude. No matter what we’re going through, there is always something to be grateful for, and there is peace available to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Learn more about the power of peace and how to access it: How to Have Joy & Peace in Difficult Times
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Col. 4:2
This gratitude Bible verse shows us that prayer and gratitude go hand in hand. The more we pray, the more we take our minds off ourselves. Bible verses on being grateful are a challenge to our natural mind, but a comfort to our soul and spirit.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
This gratitude Bible verse reminds us of the character of God. God is a Father who loves us, and this Bible verse on being grateful even tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God, our Father. When we receive something good, Bible verses on gratitude show us that our first response should be to thank God.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phil 4:6
Gratitude in the Bible shows us that thanksgiving is like an antidote to anxiety. With prayer and thanksgiving, we can tell God what we want and need, and because of this, we don’t have to be anxious anymore. Thank you, God, for this scripture on being grateful that calms anxiety.
You can live in peace. Learn more in our blog post: Learning to Live Without Fear & Worry
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Ps. 103:1-5
Bible verses on being grateful often tell us to praise God for our before and after. Before we met Jesus, we were in chains, in a pit, and living in sin. But because of Jesus, we have healing, forgiveness, and hope.
Thank you, God, for forgiving our sins and making us new!
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess. 5:18
Gratitude in the Bible is like a holy challenge. Though 1 Thessalonians wasn’t written from prison, the Apostle Paul was still writing these words with the threat of persecution. Even with that very present danger, this gratitude Bible verse invites Christians to give thanks in all circumstances.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Ps. 107:1
Sometimes, gratitude Bible verses were written to be sung. Gratitude in the Bible is often found in the Psalms, which have been sung in ancient times and modern times. The song, “Forever” by Chris Tomlin, was written out of Psalm 107 and Psalm 136. Click HERE to listen to the song!
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 5:20
This gratitude Bible verse comes from Ephesians, which was also written by the Apostle Paul in prison. Gratitude in the Bible shows a consistent theme of staying thankful no matter what our circumstances look like.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. Ps. 28:7
Scriptures on being grateful encourage us to trust in God because of his faithful character. As we learn to trust in God, we will thank him with more ease and more joy. Hear a song that was written out of the Psalms and the New Testament about trusting in God. Listen to Trust in God by Elevation Worship.
I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving. Ps. 69:30
Gratitude in the Bible often invites us to sing praises to God. Gratitude Bible verses magnify the wonder of God and praise his holy name.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; Ps. 136:1-5
Gratitude Bible verses remind us of all of his miracles. God split the Red Sea for the Israelites (Exodus 14:21-22), God spoke and the Heavens were made (Psalm 33:6), and the same God that raised Jesus from the dead, now lives in Christians (Romans 8:11). There are so many reasons to give thanks for what God has done!
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire. Heb. 12:28-29
Jesus promised us in the Bible that everything that can be shaken will be shaken (Hebrews 12:27). Gratitude Bible verses tell Christians to be thankful that they have received a kingdom (and a King!) that can’t be shaken.
For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Heb 13:14-16
Gratitude Bible verses invite Christians to look forward to the day that Jesus will return and make all things right. Because He who promised is faithful ( Hebrews 10:23), we can thank God with confidence and assurance that he will return to the earth.
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Cor. 9:15
The inexpressible gift this gratitude Bible verse is talking about is talking about the fellowship and generosity of believers in the early church.
We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. Rev. 11:17
Did you know that Jesus is coming back to make all the wrong things right? This gratitude Bible verse shows this truth. That’s something to be grateful for today and every day.
Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen! Rev. 7:12
This scripture on being grateful comes from the book of Revelation. The Apostle John wrote this from an island called Patmos. As we learn to thank God in every circumstance, we are reminded of the holiness and worthiness of Jesus. Today, you can thank Jesus for saving you and thank him in advance for promising to come back to the earth!
5 Tips to Practice Gratitude
Gratitude in the Bible is just about everywhere. Bible verses on thankfulness are mentioned over 150 times! As you journey to be more grateful, here are our top five tips to practice gratitude and increase thankfulness:
Write It Down
Write down what you're grateful for. Gratitude can be as simple as writing down what you know. Start with 5 things that made you smile this week.
Say "Thank You"
Say “Thank you” often and compliment people in the moment. Practicing gratitude in public can change the course of your day and the day of those around you.
Negativity Fast
Try a negativity fast. Negativity fasts are where we choose gratitude, pray over every situation, and become solution-focused rather than problem-focused. We recommend starting with a one-week negativity fast.
Meditate on the Bible
Christian meditation is a great way to be intentionally grateful. To learn more, see our post: How to Practice Christian Meditation
Answered Prayers Journal
Keep an Answered Prayers Journal. One of the best ways to be grateful is to remember what God has done. Start a journal with answered prayers and be sure to put the date they were answered. Whenever you’re struggling with gratitude, simply turn to your Answered Prayers journal and remember His faithfulness.
A Prayer of Gratitude
Heavenly Father,
I come before you with a grateful heart. Grateful for Your love for me, Your sacrifice and goodness in my life. I’m grateful that You work out everything for my benefit - even when I can’t see it. Remind me, Lord, when I’m buried in jealousy or ungratefulness that You are my Provider. Thank You that You are always with me and will never leave me. Forgive me for when we don't thank You enough, for Who You are, for all that You do, for all that You've given. Help me to set my eyes and heart on You each day. Renew my spirit, fill me with Your peace and joy. I love You and need You, this day and every day. We give You praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy!
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Post: 8 Ways to Pray Throughout the Day
Conclusion
As you can see through scriptures on being grateful, gratitude isn’t just a feeling—it’s a response to who God is and what He’s done. As you reflect on these gratitude Bible verses, ask and pray that God will guide your heart toward thanksgiving every day. Whether you're in a season of joy or walking through a storm, there’s always something to be thankful for. Keep practicing gratitude, and watch how it transforms your outlook on life and renews your mind with hope.
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