Did you know that the concept of giving thanks appears in the Bible over 100 times?
It always amazes me how often the Word of God commands us to give thanks.
It’s clear that God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude.
The act of giving thanks to God should definitely be a part of your life because it is God’s will for you.
As you read the Scriptures, you will notice that we are commanded to give thanks in the presence of God and our prayers.
Let’s take a brief look at some Bible verses that refer to giving thanks to God.
Bible Verses About Giving Thanks
Here are a few Bible verses that speak about giving thanks.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 106:1
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
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.
Psalm 95:1-3
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
What is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is an expression of appreciation and recognition. So when we talk about giving thanks to the Lord, we are making reference to the act of showing appreciation and recognition towards Him.
The Bible says that every good and perfect gift is from God. If you stop to think about all the good things in your life, then you will realize that you have a lot to be grateful.
The writers of Psalms often encourage us to “bless the Lord”. Do you know what it means to “bless the Lord”?
It means that we should acknowledge Him as the source of our blessings. And one of the ways you can acknowledge Him is by giving thanks.
10 Reasons To Give Thanks To God
Here are 10 reasons to give thanks to God.
As you go through this list, I want you to audibly express thanks to God for each one.
So just take some time to say “Lord, I thank you for your goodness, your steadfast love, etc.”
1) God’s goodness
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
– 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)
The first reason to give thanks to God is for His goodness.
So what does “goodness” mean?
Well, goodness refers to the fact that God’s intentions, actions and character are righteous, kind and benevolent.
Have you realized that goodness is listed among the fruit of the Spirit? The ability to be morally right and to act in a benevolent way comes from God.
He is able to give us that ability because that’s just who He is.
This goodness is what gives us the confidence and reassurance that we don’t have to worry about our lives.
You have a good good Father who loves you and has your best interest at heart.
When you read Jeremiah 29:11, you will see that He has good plans for your life.
So give thanks to the Lord for His goodness because it gives us peace to know that the One who rules the Earth is good and will always act in a way that is righteous and benevolent.
That should give you peace of mind and joy.
Here is a worship song that you can listen to as you think about the goodness of God. I know it will help you to think about the goodness of God.
2) His steadfast love
The next reason to give thanks to God is for His steadfast love.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Look at what the Bible says in Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God loves you and He will always love you. His love is unwavering.
When I talk about God’s love, I’m not talking about the mushy kind of feeling.
God’s love is more than just a declaration; it’s a demonstration.
The Biblical definition of love is sacrificial and unconditional.
The greatest way God showed His love for His by sending His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we could be reconciled unto Him.
You are loved by God to the point that He would die so that you can have everlasting life.
Any time, you start questioning God’s love for you, I want you to think about the sacrifice He made on the cross for you.
Here is a worship song that refers to the love of God that is constant, sacrificial and kind.
3) Salvation
The next reason to be thankful to the Lord is for salvation.
Salvation refers to the deliverance from the penalty of sin which is death as well as the gift of everlasting life that is offered to everyone who believes that Jesus died for their sins.
This is something to be truly grateful for.
This is the Gospel (Good News) that even though we deserve to die because of our sins, God has provided a way of deliverance and an opportunity to live with Him forever.
If you have already accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you definitely have a reason to give God thanks.
If you have not done so as yet, you can learn more about the Gospel by clicking here.
4) Provision of our needs
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
God is our Provider and that’s why He is often referred to as Jehovah Jireh.
The Bible tells us in James 1:17 that every good and perfect gift is from God.
God is the giver of good gifts and that includes our needs. He is the One who provides us with:
- Food
- Clothing
- Shelter
- Safety
- Community
- Ability to work
- Wisdom
- Etc.
Have you realized that even though we are responsible for planting seeds, watering them and harvesting them, we cannot make that plant grow?
We have to depend on God for the growth of fruits, vegetables, starches etc.
We are truly dependent on God for the provision of all our needs!
5) Protection
Another reason to be thankful is for God’s protection. The Lord is the One who watches over you and gives His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.
I know that as humans, we have put measures in place to help us feel safe and secure like alarm and camera systems.
But the truth is that it’s the Lord who keeps us safe. Look at what the Bible says in Psalm 127:1b (NIV)
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
So take some time to express gratitude to the Lord for His faithful watch over you. He has protected you from things you aren’t even aware of.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
– Psalm 121:7-8 (NIV)
6) Community of believers
Thank God for your community of believers.
Being a Christian can be difficult at times but it’s good to know that you are not alone.
One of the most encouraging things on this faith walk is having other believers around you who can pray for you and give you Godly advice.
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25 that we should meet with other believers and encourage each other.
I strongly believe that the writer of Hebrews gave us this instruction because of how important it is to have like-minded people around us.
That’s why it’s important to have Christian friends and to be a part of a church.
These people can help to strengthen your faith in the Lord and help you to grow spiritually.
7) God’s peace and joy
I am so grateful for God’s peace and joy.
When the world is in chaos and there seems to be no resting place, I run to the Lord in prayer and worship so I can be in His presence.
In His presence, there is an abundance of joy that overflows and fills my soul.
And when I spend time meditating on Him and His Word as I pour out my heart to Him, I find peace…peace that passes all understanding.
God’s peace and joy are lasting because they come from His Spirit not from temporal pleasures.
If you want to experience this peace and joy, spend some time playing praise and worship songs, meditate on the promises of His Word and pour out your heart to Him.
8) Answered Prayers
The next reason to give thanks to God is for answered prayers.
We ask the Lord for a lot of things but how many times do we stop to say thank you?
We often spend lots of time pouring out prayer requests before Him.
But how many times do we come to the place of prayer just to say thank you for answering those specific prayer requests?
Take some time to think about all the prayers that have been answered then give Him thanks for EACH one….list them one by one.
Here is a worship song you can play as you think about how the Lord has been working throughout your life.
9) His guidance
Thank the Lord for His guidance throughout your life.
One of the ways that God guides us is through the Bible so take some time to express your gratitude for His Word.
Look back at your life and you will start to see how God has been guiding you and directing your steps.
10) Trials that have contributed to character development
The final reason to give thanks to God is for trials that have contributed to character development.
More than likely you weren’t expecting to see this reason on this list.
But let’s look at what the Bible says in James 1:2-4 (NIV):
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Trials are not pleasant when we are going through them.
But when you understand that God uses them to build your character and even your faith in Him, then you can be grateful.
Think about some of the difficulties and challenges that you faced in life and look at how they have helped you to grow and mature.
I know my challenges force me to seek God and my faith in God has grown.
So now I can look back and say thank you God for the challenges that pushed me closer to you.
Look at what David said in Psalm 119:71 (NLT):
My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
So thank God for the life experiences that have helped you to trust God more and cling to His Word.
Takeaway
I want you to always remember that it is God’s will for us to give thanks. And the good thing is that you can always find something to be grateful for.
You can save this article and make reference to it during your quiet time with the Lord.
You can use each of these reasons as prayer points during your devotions with the Lord.
Whenever you are feeling down, I want you to make reference to this list. Then open your mouth and just start giving thanks to God for each point listed above.
As you give God thanks, you will notice that your perspective will shift to a more positive mindset. You will also be in a better mood as you switch your focus from what you lack to what you have.
Name your blessings one by one and thank the Lord for each of them.
Giving thanks to the Lord glorifies Him. So why not glorify the Lord with praise and thanksgiving right now?