I think I say this every year, but my goodness, this year felt like it went fast! How is it possible we’re just a couple of months away from celebrating yet another new year? When I started to look ahead at my fall calendar, it caused me some momentary stress. There are so many good things taking place, but if I’m not careful, too much busyness equals burnout.
I also want to enjoy the holiday season. Spend time with my family. Enjoy my kids when they come home. Make baked goods to share. Celebrate the gift of friendship over lunch or maybe dinner. The point is this: I want to make space to treasure and reflect on the blessings of this life.
So I searched out Bible verses about thanksgiving and gratitude to challenge myself — and hopefully you, too — to use the next 30 days of November as a reset. With Thanksgiving approaching, it’s a perfect opportunity to bend our hearts and minds toward “thanks” and “giving.” And as we look inward, outward, and upward, may we remember to give praise for whom all blessings flow.
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What is thanksgiving and gratitude?
Thanksgiving and gratitude are words most find easy to define or explain, but I was curious to see a formal definition. Interestingly enough, Dictionary.com surprised me with its definition of thanksgiving, mostly because it so clearly acknowledged God. Sad that I’d be shocked to find references to God in non-biblical sources, but with an increasingly sanitized culture, it’s definitely no longer the norm.
According to Dictionary.com, though, thanksgiving is:
- the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God.
- an expression of thanks, especially to God.
- a public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness (This is the one good ‘ol Merriam-Webster provides; no mention of God at all).
- a day set apart for giving thanks to God.
In 1996, Oprah Winfrey extolled the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal and highlighted Sarah Ban Breathnach’s first release of The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude. Since then, interest in gratitude journals has continued, and over the past decade, they’ve soared in popularity.
According to recent articles published by Harvard Health Publishing and PositivePsychology.com, expressing gratitude and thanks has many positive benefits, including increased happiness, reduced stress, improved relationships, better health, and more.
Culturally speaking, we give a great deal of attention to gratitude and thankfulness, so why aren’t we, as a collective, happier? Like the old country-western song by Johnny Lee laments, are we perhaps “looking for love in all the wrong places,” seeking happiness and joy in things that have no real promise to deliver?
Because the act of giving thanks — expressing sincere gratitude — sure seems to be missing these days.
Dr. Jim Denison once shared a quote by Oscar Dellet, who is a pastor in Cuba. I think it perfectly sums up the disconnect we see between superficial gratitude and faith-filled reflection for the blessings we enjoy even in seasons of distress and heartache:
“There is a God-sized hole in every human soul. That hole can be filled only with the life which Jesus gives. We can put everything that exists in that hole—cars, houses, clothes, status, money—but it won’t fill it. It can’t. Only Jesus can. Only he can give us life, significance, meaning and eternal purpose. We can have life only in him.”
Well, I can’t change the world, but I can impact my place in it by how I respond and react. And when I allow God’s Word to fill my mind and heart — when I look to the gift of creation, the sovereignty of a loving God, the blessing of earthly relationships — I think there’s a natural outpouring of thankfulness that resets our gaze.
What does the Bible say about being thankful and grateful?
The church I attend started a sermon series on the Book of Philippians entitled All Things New. And as our pastor Dr. Jeff Warren kicked off the series, he started with the five marks of a new heart. And you know what he listed first? You guessed it: gratitude.
The timing was perfect {funny how God does that} as it helped frame some of the thoughts I’d been working to write. Below are a few of the points Dr. Warren made:
- Gratitude is one of the marks of a heart that’s been transformed by Jesus.
- Grateful people are content and reject the lie that more makes better.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving and the busyness that the holiday season can bring, will you join me not only in looking to Jesus as the source of all we have to be thankful for but also in expressing that gratitude?
Dr. Warren charged our congregation with this:
- What are you grateful for today?
- Are you grateful for the people God has placed in your life? Have you let them know?
Will you join me over the next 30 days to give thanks? Below you’ll find various Bible verses about thanksgiving and gratitude to read, write, and reflect on. And if you click the image below, you’ll find a printable with all the corresponding verses to download.
Bible Verses About Thanksgiving and Gratitude
True thanksgiving and gratitude come from a posture of prayer, and there are many Bible verses about thanksgiving and gratitude that we can lean on to drive our thoughts and actions.
Here’s a collection of verses divided into five categories: people, personal, power, prayer, and praise. Each grouping has a specific focus, and if you utilize the 30 Acts of Thanks & Giving printable as a companion resource, you’ll also find simple ways to express your gratitude. While we’ve gathered some ideas you might want to use, the intent is not to be prescriptive. Small acts of kindness and simple words of thanks go a long way, but above all, allow your focus to rest on God, who is the author of it all.
Additionally, I would encourage you not to read them in isolation, which can be problematic, but to read them in context with their surrounding verses. Here’s a one-page prayer journal template you can use to record your responses.
Giving Thanks for the People in Our Lives
We are God’s creation — each of us — from the person that gets on your very last nerve to the family and friends you cherish. But often, it’s those closest to us that we fail to appreciate.
This week let’s consider the people God has placed in our path: family, friends, colleagues, teachers, pastors, church and Bible study members, the barista at your favorite coffee shop, etc. The list is endless.
As you read these verses, who comes to mind? How have the giftings of others been instrumental in blessing you? Who in your circle of influence could use a word of encouragement?
Who is it that comes to mind as you read, and maybe write, the verses below? Act on those thoughts. Whether it’s sending a handwritten note or a quick text, use that God-wink as an opportunity to lift someone up.
“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4).
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16).
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
As well as these: Philippians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:9, and Philemon 1:4
Giving Thanks for God’s Work in Your Life
Have you ever sat quietly and considered just how much God loves you? So often, we fall into the trap of comparison, maybe feeling unimportant, overlooked, or insignificant. But it’s so important to remember we — me, you — were created by design for this very moment in time. Yes, “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
I’m staggered by that thought, and it reminds me how incredibly loved I am by the God of the Universe. As we look at this next collection of verses, let’s focus on God’s all-consuming love. Take time to offer words of thanks to God for your salvation, for sending his son to rescue you from your sin with the gift of eternal life (John 6:40). It is the incredible gift of an all-knowing, all-loving Father that we can be made new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In addition to thanking God for the way he is working in your life, maybe there’s also someone who played an instrumental part in your walk with Christ. Reach out to that person who led you to Christ and thank them. Send a note to that Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader, or friend who has helped shepherd you into a deeper walk of faith.
And as you consider the following verses, lean in to the beauty of salvation.
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind” (Psalm 107:31).
“I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation” (Psalm 118:21).
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Additional verses include: Psalm 28:7, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Colossians 3:15.
Giving Thanks for God’s Sovereign Power
Life can be hard, y’all. I don’t know about you, but I can feel weighed down by the sadness of this world. And it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by a prayer list that seems to grow heavier each day. However, there is a peace that comes with understanding and resting in the knowledge that God remains sovereign over it all.
Whatever turmoil surrounds us, remember that God redeems all he allows. In his timing alone, he will conquer disease, discord, and death. Evil does not have the last say; justice will come. And though sometimes the hurt of our fallen world can lead us to doubt, God has not forsaken us. He loves us. And when we look, we can find reminders of that all around us in the beauty of his creation.
So with this set of Bible verses, let’s thank God for the gift of his creation and his redeeming love.
“Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name” (1 Chronicles 29:12-13).
“For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17).
“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).
Other verses that serve as reminders of God’s sovereign power include Psalm 118:1, Psalm 118:24, and Matthew 19:26.
Giving Thanks for the Gift of Prayer
We serve a relational God. In “Every Hour I Need Thee: A Practical Guide to Daily Prayer,” Dr. Jim Denison reminds readers, “[We were] not made by God to work for him, but to walk with him.” It’s easy to forget what a gift that is. Most of us like to be “doers.” It provides a sense of accomplishment as we check things off our lists. Yet, God is not interested in our activity for the sake of doing. Rather, he desires an intimacy with us that comes only when we first sit and rest in his presence.
Prayer often gets overlooked, and quite frankly, sometimes it feels hard to know how to do it or if you’re doing it “right.” But it’s not only one of the most important things we can do but also the bridge to a deeper relationship with our Creator.
So thank him today for being a God who not only loves you but also sees and hears you, a God who is waiting even now for you to lift your heart and mind to him.
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you” (Jeremiah 29:12).
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14).
Additional verses centered around prayer include John 11:41, Philippians 4:6, and James 5:13.
Giving God All the Praise
Yes, we live in an imperfect world. But every blessing we enjoy in this life comes from God. When I think about praise, “The Doxology” springs to mind:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Doxology literally means the expression of praise to God, and if you’re interested, “The Best-Known Hymn in History: Why We Keep Signing ‘The Doxology'” by David Mathis, Executive Editor of DesiringGod.com, is a short and interesting read.
If you’re utilizing the 30 Days of Thanks & Giving printable, then you know that praise completes our month of reflection. Here are the Bible verses that have been chosen to give God all the praise:
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 9:1).
“In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me” (Psalm 56:4)?
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…” (Hebrews 12:28).
Other verses focused on praise are Psalm 105:1, Psalm 150:6, and Hebrews 13:15.
How can I give thanks to God?
Well, we don’t have to look far for answers. In the Bible, verses about thanksgiving and gratitude are plentiful and point us directly to the source of all hope and joy. However, having a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude should not be an annual event but rather a daily attitude.
We honor and give thanks to God when we acknowledge him in all things. When we seek to love others as he loves us, when we share our gospel stories, when we act with kindness, when we prioritize him above all else — in all of these things and more — we can glorify God. And if I can guarantee you one thing, it’s this: If you seek the Lord, you will be found, and your heart will be changed.
So now the choice is yours:
How will you express your thankfulness to God today?
How will you share that with others?
