Gratitude: Why You Should Practice Being Grateful Daily

Why practice gratitude daily? There are many reasons…Below you’ll even find a list of gratitude scriptures to help you foster this new habit of giving God thanks.

Not enough money in the bank to pay your bills?

A cancer diagnosis?

A wayward son or daughter?

While these may not be things to be grateful for, the Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to be thankful IN all things. That doesn’t mean to be thankful FOR all things.

Being grateful simply acknowledges that in spite of everything that may be going wrong in your life, you are thankful to God. If even that means the only thing going right is you still being alive and breathing on this earth, that’s more than enough reason to be grateful.

Why It’s Important to Practice Gratitude

Even when you’re going through hard times, being able to express gratitude trains your soul (mind, will and emotions) to embrace the positive. When you live with an attitude of gratefulness, you become more prone to seeing the “glass half full” versus seeing it half empty.

When you express gratitude to the Creator, you open doors for God’s blessings to come into your life.

Gratitude is more than just saying thank you. It’s a matter of the heart. It is also not a feeling. It’s a decision.

3 Ways to Practice Gratefulness

When looking for ways to express or practice gratitude daily, consider the following:

• Journaling – Putting your thankfulness in writing
• Verbalizing – Telling God thank you for everything you can think of from small to big (example: Lord, I’m so grateful for being able to feel the wind against my skin; I’m thankful for my fine natural hair because I have hair)
• Donating – As a way to give back out of your abundance, give of yourself (time, money, energy, strength)

I use the 5 Minute Journal to help remind me to practice gratitude daily. It’s a wonderful tool that prompts gratefulness.

When you find yourself surrounded by trouble on all sides, look up to the Creator. Remember all that He’s done for you in the past. Thank Him for all of the things He’s done for you. Then, trust that He’s got more victory in store for you in the future.

10 Thanksgiving Dinner Scriptures to Practice Gratitude

While the ideas I gave you are ways to help you practice gratitude, they are not complete without the Word of God.

So, below are 10 scriptures to help you build a habit of expressing Thanksgiving to the Lord. The scriptures are grouped in a way to build the Word of God into your family’s Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Psalm 107:1
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Purpose: Provides a reminder of God’s goodness.

2. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Purpose: Centers the entire family on gratitude beyond just the meal being eaten.

3. James 1:17
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”
Purpose: Reminds everyone present that the blessings on the table (and in life) come from God.

4. Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Purpose: Frames the act of eating and communing with the family as part of worship.

5. Ephesians 5:20
“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Purpose: Reframes how you see life’s circumstances to be thankful in spite of them

6. Psalm 118:24
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice today and be glad.”
Purpose: Reminds everyone to be present (phones and games down!) and celebrate the day as God’s gift.

7. Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Purpose: Brings peace to the day while balancing thanksgiving with trust, even in times of need.

8. Colossians 3:15
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… And be thankful.”
Purpose: To connect thanksgiving with peace in Jesus.

9. Hebrews 12:28
“Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
Purpose: Shifts the focus of being grateful for not only earthly blessings but also, our eternal hope.

10. Psalm 100:4
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
Purpose: A joyful closing verse that you can pray right before a prayer of blessing.

Since this post was initially shared on Thanksgiving Day, I pray your day is blessed and you are able to practice gratitude throughout the day. May God bless you and your family.