What does the Bible say about thankfulness and gratitude?

At this time of year our thoughts turn to gratitude and thanksgiving. Especially since we celebrate Thanksgiving toward the end of the month. Sometimes it’s hard to keep gratitude in our thoughts and minds when there is craziness in our lives. Thanksgiving for me is not my favorite holiday because of emotional strings that tug at my heart in the wrong direction. I want the holiday to be about spending time with family and thankfulness, yet sometimes I focus on everything I’m missing. The people who aren’t there and the strained relationships.

It’s hard to focus on being thankful especially when the Bible tells us to be thankful for everything since its from God. For truly everything is from Him. Paul says “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,” Colossians 3:15-16.

Why is thankfulness important?

Thankfulness is important because it shifts our focus from what you don’t have to what you do. If you look at a glass that is half full, you can focus on the empty portion of the glass, and what is missing, or you can focus on the full portion of the glass and see the full portion. This change in view doesn’t change the fact there are still things missing in your life. Whether that be people who have died, strained family relationships or other negative things, but to live life with an attitude of gratitude means the focus is on the half that’s full, not empty half. You learn to see God blessings instead of someone else’s blessings which cuts down on comparison, jealousy and negative thinking.

Thankful Bible Verses / scriptures

Post these six verses where you can see them to shift your mindset to thankfulness and gratitude for the blessings you have.

• Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 5:20.
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, Philippians 4:6.
• 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, Colossians 3:15-16.
• Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you, 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
• I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds, Psalm 9:1.
• The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him, Psalm 28:7.