In the Bible, gratitude and thanksgiving are everywhere. From the Old Testament in Psalms 107, where the Scriptures tell us to “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!”, to the New Testament, where the Apostle Paul tells us to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). However, science is catching up to the ancient wisdom found in Bible verses about gratitude. Researchers are now proving that gratitude is good for your body, your mind, and your soul, even in difficult times. The timeless principles that scripture has taught for thousands of years are being affirmed by modern science.
The science of gratitude is an exciting field in psychology, and its findings read like a commentary on Bible verses about gratitude and Scripture’s charge to give thanks in all circumstances.
If you want to learn more about the power of gratitude, how to cultivate a grateful heart, and how to improve your mental health as a Christian, this post is for you. Together, we’ll look at what modern research reveals about thankfulness, where gratitude and thanksgiving appear in the Bible, and how to practice gratitude every day.
What Science Says About the Benefits of Gratitude
The growing body of research on the connection between gratitude and health keeps pointing to the ancient wisdom of the Bible. It proves that when we are thankful, we tend to flourish in every circumstance. Here is some of the new science of gratitude that proves this Biblical point:
- Gratitude improves happiness and well-being: In the well-known study about counting blessings versus burdens, psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough asked participants to keep a weekly gratitude journal. They found that those who wrote down the things they were grateful for reported greater optimism and noted that life was more satisfying than those who recorded hassles or neutral events.
Renew your mind with Bible verses about gratitude in our blog: 21 Bible Verses About Gratitude - Gratitude improves mental health and positively impacts the brain: Studies show that gratitude releases neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, while simultaneously lowering stress hormones. A regular gratitude practice has been shown by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Calm your mind with Bible verses to stop anxiety: 21 Bible Verses For When You Feel Anxious or Worried - Gratitude improves heart health and sleep: According to the American Heart Association, gratitude can help your heart health. In another study by the American Psychological Association, a grateful heart is a healthier heart, showing that patients who practice gratitude had a “better mood, better sleep, less fatigue, and lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers related to cardiac health.”
Related Post: 10 Bible Verses to Read Before Bed - Gratitude improves brain health: Multiple brain-imaging studies suggest that practicing gratitude is incredibly powerful for the brain. These benefits point to gratitude being malleable and strengthened, like a spiritual muscle.
Discover more about the science of gratitude in our blog: The Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude in the Bible: Ancient Wisdom for Chaotic Times
The wonderful thing about the science of gratitude is that you don’t need a wellness retreat to begin: you can start right where you are, as you’re reading this post.
In the Bible, gratitude and thanks to God were given from prison cells, in all-night prayer meetings, and even after followers of Jesus were executed as martyrs. Gratitude to God triumphed over waves of persecution and frustration. The people in the Bible weren’t acting like their problems didn’t exist; they were honest with God about how things were affecting them, while giving thanks to God for what they did have.
Gratitude in the Bible (and gratitude in science!) isn’t about denial; rather, the consistent theme is perspective. When we look at gratitude in the Bible, we see that thankfulness is powerful, especially when you’re enduring hardship. Here are some examples of Bible verses about gratitude that confirm the new science on gratitude:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
This Bible verse about gratitude from 1 Thessalonians challenges us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and to give thanks all of the time. Without God, this is impossible. But with God, this level of a gratitude practice is possible. For example, this Bible verse on gratitude was written by the Apostle Paul, a man who had suffered intense persecution and would eventually even die for the Lord. Even though he was constantly threatened, endured violence and beatings for the name of Jesus, Paul found ways to practice gratitude and thank God even when facing difficulty.
Related Post: Can We Have Joy & Peace in Difficult Times?
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
– Psalm 100:4
Scriptures on gratitude help us to see God for who He actually is. When we make the choice to enter His gates with thanksgiving, we take our perspective off of us and onto God. God has all wisdom, all power, and is even named as the God of all comfort in the Bible (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Thanking God for the little things in life is incredibly powerful and helps our souls receive His love and supernatural strength for the day.
Related Post: What Did Jesus Mean By “Blessed”?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
– Philippians 4:6-8
The Bible shows us that gratitude is a powerful antidote for anxiety. When you’re experiencing a wave of fear or anxiety, your mind is fixating on what is scary, overwhelming, and out of your control. This Bible verse on gratitude from Philippians 4 tells us to fix our minds on what is true, noble, right, lovely, pure, and admirable.
Need more tools to fight anxiety? Head to our blog: How Do I Pray When I’m Anxious?
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
– Colossians 3:15
Bible verses about gratitude are simple and encouraging, though sometimes living out gratitude can be challenging. Thankfully, this scripture on gratitude from Colossians 3:15 tells us that the peace of Christ can rule in our hearts, helping us to live out a practice of gratitude, no matter what’s going on in our world. As multiple scientific studies on gratitude show, even when you’re faced with difficult circumstances, gratitude and thankfulness are wildly beneficial to the body, mind, and emotions.
Related Post: What Does the Bible Say About God as a Father?
As you can see through these Bible verses about gratitude, Jesus and His followers modeled a lifestyle of thankfulness and gratitude, pioneering thankfulness as a spiritual discipline, which modern science now affirms as beneficial.
When Jesus fed the five thousand, He gave thanks before multiplying the bread. Even on the night He was betrayed, Jesus gave thanks to God during the Last Supper, before sharing the bread and wine with His betrayer. Jesus modeled a lifestyle of gratitude that still inspires us today.
Conclusion
As you can see, the new science on gratitude and the growing body of evidence on thankfulness confirms old, ancient truths found in the Bible. A thankful life with rhythms of gratitude brings health, happiness, and joy to the forefront, and for Christians, practicing gratitude is also a profound act of worship to God. As Thanksgiving approaches, we encourage you to let this season be the catalyst for the start of a lasting habit of gratitude rather than just a one-day tradition.
Discover more about gratitude and how God wants to empower you to live out your faith every day:
