Thankfulness is a central theme in the Bible. God desires that his followers cultivate a heart of gratitude in all circumstances. Here are some key Bible verses about thankfulness:
Old Testament Verses on Thankfulness
The Old Testament records many examples of God’s people giving thanks to God. Here are some key verses:
Psalm 100:4-5 – “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.” This popular Psalm calls God’s people to come before him with grateful hearts.
Psalm 136 – This Psalm reflects on God’s goodness in Israel’s history. The repeated refrain is “for his steadfast love endures forever.” It powerfully demonstrates thankfulness to God for his love and mighty works.
1 Chronicles 16:8 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!” The book of Chronicles retells Israel’s history. This verse is a call to thankfulness as part of worship.
Psalm 107:1 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” This Psalm begins by calling God’s people to thankfulness for his enduring love and covenant faithfulness.
Psalm 118:1 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” This verse begins another Psalm emphasizing thankfulness as the appropriate response to God’s love.
Psalm 105:1 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!” This verse calls God’s people to make known his praiseworthy deeds.
2 Chronicles 20:21 – “And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.”” This passage describes a time when Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing praises to God before a battle.
Psalm 9:1 – “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” The Psalmist commits to wholehearted thankfulness in response to God’s works.
Psalm 26:7 – “…that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all your wondrous works.” The Psalmist will thank God publicly for his marvelous works.
1 Chronicles 29:13 – “And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” Part of David’s public prayer of blessing over the temple sacrifices.
The Old Testament Jews regularly offered sacrifices of thanksgiving. God’s great acts on their behalf compelled heartfelt gratitude. Their example provides a model for Christians today.
New Testament Verses on Thankfulness
The New Testament also emphasizes thankfulness. Christians are to live with an attitude of gratitude in response to Christ’s sacrifice. Here are some noteworthy verses:
Philippians 4:6 – “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Paul encourages believers to bring anxious requests to God with thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:20 – “…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Believers should be consistently thankful in all circumstances.
Colossians 2:6-7 – “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Mature believers will overflow with thankfulness to God.
Colossians 3:15-17 – “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” These verses describe a Spirit-filled life marked by thankfulness.
Colossians 1:11-12 – “…being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” Paul links empowerment, endurance and joyful thankfulness.
1 Corinthians 15:57 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul gives thanks to God for the victory over death through Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It is God’s will that believers be thankful in every situation.
2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” Paul is overwhelmed by thankfulness for Christ’s sacrifice.
Luke 17:15-18 – “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?…” Only one of the ten lepers thanked Jesus for healing them.
Romans 1:8 – “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.” Paul regularly gave thanks for fellow believers.
Clearly thankfulness should be a hallmark of the Christian life. Believers are to imitate Christ’s attitude of gratitude. His sacrifice warrants endless thanksgiving.
Reasons for Thankfulness
Why should Christians be thankful? Here are some key reasons:
- God’s love, grace and mercy
- Forgiveness of sins
- New life in Christ
- The Holy Spirit’s daily empowerment
- Membership in God’s family
- Eternal life and heaven
- God’s provision and care
- Freedom from slavery to sin
- Victory over death
- Guidance and direction
- The Scriptures and access to truth
- The privilege of prayer
- The church community
- Opportunities to serve
- God’s patience and longsuffering
- The beauty of God’s creation
Christians have been abundantly blessed by God. Thankfulness should be part of how we honor Him with our lives.
Cultivating a Thankful Heart
Thankfulness does not always come naturally. Here are some tips for growing in gratitude:
- Start each day by thanking God for life, salvation, and a new day
- Keep a journal of God’s daily blessings and faithfulness
- Thank God throughout the day – before meals, during trials, in response to blessings
- Memorize Bible verses about thankfulness
- Sing worship songs with thankful lyrics
- Reflect on Bible stories demonstrating God’s goodness
- Tell others when you are thankful for them
- Serve with a thankful attitude
- Thank God even when you don’t feel like it by faith
- Focus on blessings rather than complaining
- Spend time in extended gratitude prayer
Living gratefully takes practice. But it glorifies God, lines up our hearts with truth, and reminds us of how blessed we are in Christ.
Thankfulness in Trials and Hardships
It’s easy to thank God when things are going well. But Scripture calls believers to trust God and maintain gratitude even in the darkest of times. Consider these examples:
Habakkuk 3:17-18 – “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” The prophet praises God amidst devastating hypothetical agricultural hardships.
Acts 16:22-25 – “The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison…About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Paul and Silas sang praises to God after being stripped, beaten and thrown in jail.
Jonah 2:7 – “When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.” Jonah thanks God for salvation even while drowning in the belly of a fish.
2 Corinthians 4:15-18 – “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart…For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Paul encourages enduring hardship with thanksgiving, knowing it produces greater glory.
Life’s inevitable trials – sickness, grief, poverty, persecution – provide opportunities to either doubt God’s goodness, or trust it. May we submit to God’s plans, thanking Him for His presence and the promised reward.
Corporate Thankfulness
While thankfulness is primarily individual, the Bible also describes collective gratitude.
The Old Testament records national days of thanksgiving tied to events like military victories, good harvests or rebuilding the temple (1 Chronicles 29:22, 2 Chronicles 7:8-10, Nehemiah 12:27-47).
The New Testament church demonstrated shared thankfulness for each other, partnerships in the gospel, and God’s work in various cities and churches (Romans 1:8, 1 Corinthians 1:4-8, Philippians 1:3-5, Colossians 1:3-6, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, Philemon 1:4-7). Paul gives thanks to God for fellow believers frequently in his letters.
Shared gratitude is an appropriate response when God’s people experience His grace collectively. Church services provide a great context for giving thanks together. Singing hymns, sharing testimonies, communion, and reciting creeds or responsive readings can all incorporate thanksgiving.
In some cultural and denominational traditions, testimony services revolve around giving glory to God for His work. Some churches take time every year to testify about God’s faithfulness over the past year. Reciting the blessings of God together reinforces gratitude in the church.
Conclusion
Thankfulness should permeate the Christian life. From Old Testament feasts to New Testament doxologies, Scripture reveals many reasons to thank God. Gratitude glorifies Him and transforms us. Believers must guard against entitlement, recognizing that all good gifts come from the Father (James 1:17). May we overflow with thanksgiving for His blessings, grace and salvation.