What Does the Bible Say About Being Thankful?

November 19, 2019 by Kristi 10 Comments

What the Bible Says About Thankfulness

It notes many things, but what does the Bible say about being thankful? Have you ever considered which verses include gratitude to God or pertain to a Christian’s thankfulness?

During this time of thanksgiving, but all year too, let’s dig in deep and take a look at what the Bible says about thankfulness.

How Can I be Thankful to God

Thankfulness begins with intentionality. But let’s be honest, it’s easy to rush on with the day-to-day grind, leaving gratitude and our offering somewhere behind. Being thankful to God is important, however, and we should include it in our daily lives.

David offered praise and thanksgiving. After Gabriel spoke the words of promise to Mary, she offered praise sprinkled with gratitude. So did Hannah and the leper. In both the Old and New Testament, we see intentional decisions to offer thanks to God, setting a grand example for us to follow.

Here’s How I Offer Thanks

I started listing my thanksgiving on daily tasks sheets. Find free links to these two faith-focused daily to-do lists in the Subscriber Library. Subscribers can check in the latest “Insider” monthly newsletter for the password. If you’re not a subscriber, sign up here and the password will arrive in the series of welcome emails. (Be sure to check spam if you don’t see it in your inbox.)

God also grabbed my attention one day when I didn’t feel like offering thanksgiving. He prompted me to start giving thanks backwards. Sounds a little off-beat, but it’s powerful–and easy. Read more here.

Why is Being Thankful to God Important

It’s in the Bible. That’s a start. Anytime I see topics in the Word, I perk up. How about you?

If we study the lives of those in the Bible who offer thanks to God, we find that some magnificent things happened. Consider that you and I, generations later, read about and glean from their offering. God likes our offerings of thanks and prompts us to do so in His Word.

Psalm 100:4 tells us that we enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts. That is, we approach the Almighty and come into His presence, with thanksgiving playing a vital role. Find out more about this verse in the Treasury of David or by comparing the verse in these versions. (I found The Message to be especially interesting.)

Bible Verses About Thanksgiving and Gratitude

Here are five Bible verses centering on both thanksgiving and gratitude.

Colossians 3:15 ESV
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
1 Chron. 16:34 ESV
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Psalm 69:30 ESV
“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 100:4 ESV
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
Psalm 9:1 ESV
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”

Bible Verses About Being Thankful for the Little Things

God often uses little things in mighty ways. Consider what happens when we offer thanks for them. Here are three Bible verses to study, memorize, and hold close to the heart.

Phil. 4:6 ESV
“[D]o not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
1 Thes. 5:18 ESV
“[G]ive thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Col. 3:17 ESV
“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.”

Resources and Gift Ideas for Being Thankful and Showing Gratitude

Sometimes it helps to have a few resources on hand for our study or use. Below are items to use for self or as gifts.

517336: The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude

The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude
By Joyce Meyer

432551: Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy

Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy
By Nancy Leigh DeMoss

587448: In Everything Give Thanks: Three-Year Keepsake Gratitude Journal

In Everything Give Thanks: Three-Year Keepsake Gratitude Journal
By Rebecca Currington

552009: A Thankful Heart Is a Happy Heart: Gratitude Journal for Kids

A Thankful Heart Is a Happy Heart: Gratitude Journal for Kids
By Crystal Paine

Ceramic Mug-Handwarmer-Warm The Heart-Thankful

Thankful and Blessed Jute Hanging Decor

I’m Thankful for You: A Special Offer

As we wrap up this post on “What Does the Bible Say About Being Thankful”, please know I appreciate you, friend. For every subscriber and reader here at KristiWoods.net, I thank God. Because your life matters and this journey together is a good and God thing.

Sale on Created to Believe: A Bible Word Study

As a thank you, I’m offering this special price on Created to Believe: A Bible Word Study. It’s normally $6.99 but lists at $5.50 from now until Dec. 4. It’s a wonderful stocking stuffer, a faith-filled last-minute gift, a Christian option for gift-giving across the miles, and a great way to dig into God’s Word at the start of the new year. Don’t miss it! Buy your copy and save before Dec. 4.

Available Now

If you’re looking for a physical book to give this Christmas or one for yourself, consider these devotionals from Wholly Loved Ministries. You’ll find them on this “Published Here” page, under the “Non-fiction” heading. Both are available from Amazon. (I’m honored to have pieces in both devos.)

This Is It! Catch Our Final Memory Verse of the Year Here + A Thanksgiving Prayer

November 20, 2018 by Kristi 3 Comments

This is it! It’s our final memory verse.

You guys, we did it! We’ve worked our way through Psalm 34 in 2018. The whole, crazy good Psalm. Just tuck this last, glorious verse into the heart. And that’s it!

I love that this is our last one. Call it a verse of hope and redemption, not condemnation. And honestly, doesn’t it give an Old Testament peek into salvation?

Goodness…

Because memorizing Scripture comes slow to me, I’m still working on holding each of these firm. But that’s okay. My humanity continues to try. And if you’re still repeating, writing, and reciting Psalm 34, that’s okay too. Let’s stay familiar. Find our way around. It’ll get tucked in there if we just keep pressing toward the goal.

Past Verses

Past verses from this year and previous years are on THIS Pinterest board as well as posts concerning methods for memorization. Find past verses also by typing #WORD18, WORD17, or #ScriptureBank16 in the search section below.

Next Year’s Memory Verse Program

What’s in story for memory scriptures next year? Look for more information in December. And as a reminder, you have permission to print all #WORD18 memory verses for your personal use.

Put ’em in a binder. Print and tape them to the bathroom mirror or office wall–like I did below! Hey, it’s even okay to give them to a friend or family member.

Thank you, friend, for journeying together in WORD18. May God’s word truly be alive within us, active and sharper than a two-edged sword. And may others see a difference as we live each day, giving glory to our Father Above.

A Prayer to Grab & Use

iBelieve.com published a Thanksgiving Prayer for Family last week. Here it is, available for us to pray over family this Thanksgiving season and throughout the year.

How to Give Thanks When You Don’t Feel Like It + FREE Summit Today

November 13, 2018 by Kristi 12 Comments

How to Give Thanks

Have you ever found yourself in a pothole of discouragement or disappointment, wondering how to give thanks when you don’t feel like it?

A few Susie Sunshines fill my world. They smile and offer an upbeat attitude to every pitch and unexpected curve ball thrown at them. And gosh, I sometimes wish that were me–especially when disappointment or discouragement hits.

But it’s not.

God made you to be you. And He made me to be me, and goodness, we are works in progress. And His strength? It casts sunshine on our gray.

It’s normal to face disappointment or discouragement.

But whether we journey with it or Jesus makes a daily difference.

God hasn’t called us to offer discouraging remarks or disappointing reports. He has called us to sit, stand, and walk with thanksgiving, even in tough circumstances.

Sounds easy. Check. Reality, however, assures a battle of God-sized proportions, so why not battle with His strength?

Not long ago, I faced a ripple of disappointment. Soon after, a huge, old wave of discouragement hit. Truth be told, those are the times when I feel weak, lackluster, embarrassed, even “less than.” I consider pulling into my shell, shying away from the solution and straight into the pity of my problem.

It’s a battle, and who wants to broadcast it to the world that we’re struggling? I’ve learned, however, that pulling the covers off darkness is the best way to begin the battle against it. And often, that means allowing others to come alongside us in prayer and support.

(Read more about that lesson here.)

So I pulled off those covers and shared the struggle with a circle of girlfriends. They stood alongside me with encouragement and prayer. Even more so, God surrounded us with His victory.

That’s our Father.

God grants us victory with and through His strength.

I’m convinced thanksgiving is one of those strong devices the Lord offers for overcoming disappointment and discouragement. Amid my bout, He offered a new glimpse on how to give thanksgiving when the “feels” simply remain absent.

Give Thanks Backward

Huh?

Backward thanks.

When we look backward, we find thankfulness.

What one thing, person, or circumstance from yesterday are you thankful for?

Then repeat it tomorrow.

And the next day. And the next day. And the next.

It works.

Why Give Thanks Backward

There’s always something to thank God for. (Gosh, that sounds like something our moms would say to us, doesn’t it?!)

So today, my friend, I encourage you to grab yesterday’s opportunity for thanks. Set it as an offering to God, allowing thanks to glorify Him and grow you.

I'm giving thanks backward. Join me? Click To Tweet

Wiggle past that disappointment and discouragement attempting to wrestle you to the ground, and pick up the provision of God. I’m right there with you, wiggling, too.

Action Steps for Giving Thanks:

I started giving thanks backward recently. The Lord used those thank offerings to help me step up and out of the wave of discouragement. Will you join me, putting action behind the unction?

Note your backward thanks in a journal.
Tell someone.
Recite it out loud to God (“God, I thank you for…”)
List your thanks in the comments below.
Jot it on a paper and put it in a coffee mug or container.

However we handle it, God instilled in us the ability to simply give thanks…even when we don’t feel like it. And goodness, it proves wonders for a girl’s heart.

Thanksgiving

I’m thankful for you, reader. Make certain to visit the Subscriber-Only Library (password is in your latest “3” Connection Newsletter, in case you’ve forgotten) for a free “thanks” download.

I thank my God for you.

Not a Subscriber? No problem. Sign up here for regular email updates and access to a library full of faith-bolstering downloads!

Worst Parent in the World?

Ever feel like the worst parent in the world? It happens. Parenting is hard work, isn’t it?! Check out this Crosswalk piece for encouragement in the parenting journey, for times when you feel like the worst parent in the world.

Free Summit Starts Today

Join 27 Christian leaders as they share their stories of finding calm in the chaos November 13-15 at the His Girls Gather Summit! Register for your FREE ticket HERE today.