Thanksgiving is on the horizon, so it’s natural to reflect on our blessings.
But gratitude is more than a season or a holiday — it’s a way of seeing things. It’s a heart posture that opens our eyes to God’s goodness in every aspect of life.
Scripture is full of encouragement to be thankful and express our gratitude to God for who He is and for what He does. Here are just a few examples:
- “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV
- “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!” Psalm 30:11-12 NLT
- “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT
- “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.” Revelation 11:17 NIV
God invites us to remain connected to Him throughout each day. Morning gratitude lifts our eyes to the Giver of life. Midday prayers remind us that we’re not walking alone. Evening gratitude helps us rest in His care. These sweet moments of thanksgiving turn ordinary rituals into sacred reminders of His grace in our lives.
Many of us pause to pray before meals, offering thanks for the food we are about to eat. That’s not a bad habit. It’s also easy for mealtime prayers to become a hurried ritual, where we repeat the same words over and over again. However, if our hearts are in it, expressing gratitude as we pause for breakfast, lunch, and dinner can open the door to a deeper connection with God as we realize He really does hear our prayers.
“Evening and morning and at noon will I pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17 KJV
Gratitude is not just for the good times. Scripture reminds us that expressing gratitude to God is not just something we do when we feel like it.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
That phrase — in all circumstances — is challenging. But gratitude is an appropriate response when we feel blessed AND when we feel burdened. Because when we choose to be thankful even in difficult times, we turn our attention to God, lean on Him, and grow in our understanding that His goodness never changes.
Gratitude is God’s will because it is good for us. Modern research suggests that expressing gratitude is associated with an enhanced sense of personal well-being. * But long before science confirmed it, Scripture declared it:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6–7
Gratitude shifts our focus from what’s missing to what’s already been given. In doing so, it quiets our worries and fills us with the peace only God can give.
A grateful heart naturally overflows.
“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.” 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NLT
Realizing what we have received prompts us to be generous with others and inspires them to thank God, thereby multiplying the sense of gratitude.
As Thanksgiving approaches, may we make it more than a single day of turkey and tradition. Let it be a gentle reminder to count blessings instead of problems, and to look for God’s fingerprints in the ordinary and His mercy in the mess.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1
The more we thank Him, the more we notice how faithfully He provides — not just the things we ask for, but the quiet peace our souls truly need.
A Prayer for a Grateful Heart
Lord, teach me to live with a spirit of thankfulness.
Let gratitude take root in my heart and overflow in my life
until peace and joy become the rhythm of my days.
Amen.