Today, I want to share with you some very powerful bible verses about gratitude. Gratitude is important because gratitude is the will of God. The Bible says that this is the will of God that you give thanks to Him in everything. May our bible verses for gratitude below help you in your thankfulness to God for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon your life even in hard times.
As we share these bible passages on gratitude, it is our prayer that you:
Grow in thankfulness,
Develop a heart of thanksgiving in your worship to God,
See that thankfulness in Scripture is a posture of the heart,
Learn To Give God thanks in all things or circumstances.
We've provided bible verses about being thankful for blessings and also scriptures about appreciation and gratitude to God. Be blessed in Jesus' Name.
Here are our Gratitude scriptures for you to enjoy.
Gratitude and Thanksgiving Bible Verses
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Corinthians 4:15
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the Thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
Bible Quotes About Gratitude and Thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Bible Verses About Happiness (Powerful)
Psalm 50:23
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
1 Timothy 4:4-5
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with Thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Verses About Gratitude
Psalm 95:1-3
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with Thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Read Bible Verses About The Holy Spirit - Powerful
Ezra 3:11
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Gratitude Scriptures To Build Thankfulness
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 1:12
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Philippians 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Gratitude Quotes From The Bible About Thankfulness
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100:3
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psalm 100:4-5
Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Powerful Thanksgiving Bible Verses
Psalm 7:17
I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.
Colossians 4:2
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with Thanksgiving;
Colossians 2:7
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with Thanksgiving.
Biblical Scholars on Being More Thankful:
| Scholar | Paraphrase / Teaching (with Scriptural Reference Below) |
|---|---|
| Matthew Henry (Biblical Commentator, 17th–18th c.) | Gratitude flows from a heart that recognizes mercy; thanksgiving is the believer’s constant duty and highest joy. Scripture:1 Thessalonians 5:18 |
| John Chrysostom (Early Church Father, 4th c.) | Giving thanks in all things proves faith in God’s providence even when understanding fails. Scripture:Ephesians 5:20 |
| Charles Spurgeon (Baptist Preacher, 19th c.) | A grateful heart magnifies God’s goodness and quiets the spirit of complaint. Scripture:Psalm 100:4 |
| John Calvin (Reformer & Theologian, 16th c.) | Gratitude is the true mark of the redeemed; it binds obedience and worship together. Scripture:Psalm 103:2 |
| Augustine of Hippo (Theologian & Philosopher, 4th–5th c.) | True thankfulness springs from humility and the recognition that all good gifts are divine. Scripture:James 1:17 |
| N. T. Wright (New Testament Scholar, 21st c.) | Gratitude reorders life around God’s grace and participation in Christ’s new creation. Scripture:Colossians 3:15–17 |
| William Barclay (Scottish Commentator, 20th c.) | Gratitude turns prayer into praise and keeps life free from bitterness. Scripture:Philippians 4:6 |
| John Stott (Evangelical Theologian, 20th c.) | Thanksgiving is the natural breath of the Christian, exhaled in worship and service. Scripture:Ephesians 5:19–20 |
| C. S. Lewis (Christian Writer & Scholar, 20th c.) | Gratitude is heaven’s language; it tunes the heart to joy and silences pride. Scripture:Psalm 92:1 |
| Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Theologian, 20th c.) | In gratitude, believers recognize even hardship as a means of grace. Scripture:1 Thessalonians 5:18 |
| Thomas Aquinas (Medieval Theologian, 13th c.) | Thanksgiving perfects love, returning to God what love has received. Scripture:Colossians 3:17 |
| John Wesley (Theologian & Revivalist, 18th c.) | The thankful soul lives in continual communion with God’s providence. Scripture:Psalm 107:1 |
| Albert Barnes (Bible Commentator, 19th c.) | Gratitude strengthens faith by reminding believers of God’s past faithfulness. Scripture:Psalm 118:1 |
| F. F. Bruce (Biblical Scholar, 20th c.) | Gratitude in Paul’s letters reveals Christian maturity grounded in grace. Scripture:Colossians 2:6–7 |
| R. C. Sproul (Reformed Theologian, 20th–21st c.) | Thankfulness is theology applied—it turns doctrine into devotion. Scripture:Romans 1:21 |
| John Piper (Theologian & Pastor, 21st c.) | Gratitude exalts God as the source of all joy and combats idolatry of self. Scripture:Psalm 16:11 |
| Matthew Poole (Biblical Commentator, 17th c.) | The thankful believer remembers mercies as the soul’s safeguard against unbelief. Scripture:Psalm 103:1–2 |
| G. K. Chesterton (Christian Essayist, 20th c.) | Thanks is the highest form of thought; gratitude crowns faith with wonder. Scripture:Psalm 136:1 |
| Craig Keener (New Testament Scholar, 21st c.) | Gratitude for grace builds unity in the early church and today. Scripture:Ephesians 1:15–16 |
| John Gill (Theologian, 18th c.) | Thankfulness is the believer’s response to divine election and redemption. Scripture:Ephesians 1:3–4 |
| Francis Schaeffer (Apologist & Philosopher, 20th c.) | The unthankful heart is the root of rebellion; gratitude restores dependence on God. Scripture:Romans 1:21 |
| Warren Wiersbe (Bible Teacher, 20th–21st c.) | Thankfulness transforms trials into testimonies of God’s sustaining grace. Scripture:Philippians 4:11–13 |
| John MacArthur (Pastor & Expositor, 20th–21st c.) | Gratitude marks true worship; ingratitude reveals unbelief. Scripture:Luke 17:15–18 |
| William Ames (Puritan Theologian, 17th c.) | Thanksgiving is the purest form of obedience flowing from grace. Scripture:Hebrews 13:15 |
| A. W. Tozer (Christian Writer, 20th c.) | A grateful soul lives near the heart of God; it is a safeguard against spiritual dryness. Scripture:Psalm 50:23 |
| J. I. Packer (Theologian, 20th–21st c.) | Gratitude sustains faith by keeping grace continually before the mind. Scripture:2 Corinthians 9:11–12 |
| Leon Morris (New Testament Scholar, 20th c.) | Paul’s letters reveal gratitude as the believer’s constant tone of life. Scripture:1 Corinthians 1:4 |
| D. A. Carson (Biblical Scholar, 21st c.) | Gratitude shapes Christian worldview—seeing all of life as under grace. Scripture:Colossians 3:16 |
| Eugene Peterson (Pastor & Translator, 20th–21st c.) | Gratitude teaches us to live prayerfully and joyfully in the ordinary. Scripture:Psalm 95:2 |
| Ralph P. Martin (Pauline Studies, 20th c.) | Thanksgiving in worship unites doctrine and doxology in Paul’s writings. Scripture:Ephesians 5:19–20 |
| John Owen (Puritan Theologian, 17th c.) | Gratitude preserves the soul in humility and communion with the Spirit. Scripture:1 Thessalonians 5:18 |
| Andrew Murray (Devotional Theologian, 19th–20th c.) | Thanksgiving is faith’s proof that it trusts God before seeing the answer. Scripture:Philippians 4:6–7 |
| Jonathan Edwards (Theologian & Preacher, 18th c.) | Thankfulness glorifies God as supreme delight and ends self-exaltation. Scripture:Psalm 147:7 |
| R. T. Kendall (Theologian & Pastor, 20th–21st c.) | Gratitude is the visible mark of grace received with understanding. Scripture:Luke 17:17–18 |
| F. B. Meyer (Pastor & Writer, 19th–20th c.) | Gratitude keeps the believer’s heart from envy and renews inner peace. Scripture:Colossians 3:15 |
| Thomas à Kempis (Spiritual Writer, 15th c.) | The thankful heart bears trials patiently, trusting God’s timing. Scripture:Psalm 34:1 |
| George Müller (Christian Philanthropist, 19th c.) | A grateful spirit proves faith in daily dependence on divine provision. Scripture:Philippians 4:19 |
| B. B. Warfield (Theologian, 19th–20th c.) | Gratitude expresses the believer’s understanding of sovereign grace. Scripture:Ephesians 2:8–9 |
| Athanasius of Alexandria (Church Father, 4th c.) | Thanksgiving joins the soul to the angelic chorus of praise. Scripture:Psalm 150:1–6 |
| John Wesley (Sermons) (Revivalist, 18th c.) | Gratitude fuels holiness, for thankfulness awakens love to obedience. Scripture:1 Chronicles 16:34 |
| Henry Alford (Greek Scholar, 19th c.) | Gratitude is the melody of the heart tuned to the Spirit’s harmony. Scripture:Ephesians 5:19–20 |
| James Montgomery Boice (Reformed Pastor, 20th c.) | Gratitude directs worship away from self and toward God’s faithfulness. Scripture:Psalm 136:1 |
| E. M. Bounds (Author on Prayer, 19th–20th c.) | Thankfulness empowers prayer with confidence and expectation. Scripture:Philippians 4:6 |
| Peter Chrysologus (Early Church Father, 5th c.) | Thanksgiving sanctifies all speech and lifts the heart above despair. Scripture:Colossians 4:2 |
| Dallas Willard (Philosopher & Theologian, 20th–21st c.) | Gratitude reorients the soul toward God’s sufficiency, curing anxiety. Scripture:Matthew 6:25–34 |
| Thomas Watson (Puritan Writer, 17th c.) | The grateful heart turns every mercy into a cause of worship. Scripture:Psalm 116:12–13 |
| Richard Baxter (Puritan Pastor, 17th c.) | Thankfulness adorns holiness, making religion beautiful to the world. Scripture:Colossians 3:17 |
| Gordon Fee (NT Exegete, 20th–21st c.) | Gratitude saturates Paul’s theology—it is the lifeblood of Christian ethics. Scripture:1 Corinthians 1:4–5 |
| Philip Yancey (Christian Writer, 20th–21st c.) | Gratitude opens the eyes to grace already present, transforming perspective. Scripture:Psalm 9:1 |
| Ravi Zacharias (Apologist, 20th–21st c.) | Gratitude bridges intellect and worship, uniting mind and heart in truth. Scripture:1 Corinthians 15:57 |
Scriptures on Gratitude and Giving Thanks
1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gratitude Bible Verses
Psalm 107:1
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Scriptures on Gratitude and Being Thankful
Psalm 118:29
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 9:1
I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
2 Corinthians 9:11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us Thanksgiving to God.
Thankfulness Scriptures To Build Gratitude
2 Thessalonians 1:3
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
Psalm 118:28-29
Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:1
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Bible Verses About Love (Powerful)
Bible Quotes on Gratitude and Thankfulness
1 Corinthians 1:4
I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
Psalm 35:18
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
More Grateful Bible Verses
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Psalm 136:1-3
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Scriptures on Gratitude and Giving Thanks
Psalm 107:8-9
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with Thanksgiving.
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Hebrews 12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Bible Verses About Being Thankful
Romans 11:36
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Lamentations 3:22-24
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Ephesians 1:16
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Hebrews 13:15
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Here are some benefits of being thankful
| Scholar / Researcher | Field & Time Period | Finding / Paraphrase & Source |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Emmons | Psychology, 2000s–2020s | Regular gratitude journaling increases happiness by 25% and lowers depression symptoms. (Emmons & McCullough, “Counting Blessings vs Burdens,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2003) |
| Michael E. McCullough | Social Psychology, 2000s | Gratitude strengthens social bonds and improves psychological resilience to stress. (McCullough et al., 2002, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology) |
| Martin Seligman | Positive Psychology, 2000s–2010s | Expressing gratitude daily boosts optimism and life satisfaction significantly. (Seligman, Authentic Happiness, 2002) |
| Sonja Lyubomirsky | Positive Psychology, 2000s–2020s | Grateful people experience more vitality, optimism, and goal achievement. (Lyubomirsky, The How of Happiness, 2007) |
| Brené Brown | Social Work & Research, 2010s | Practicing gratitude daily reduces anxiety and fosters joy. (Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection, 2010) |
| Rick Hanson | Neuroscience & Psychology, 2010s | Gratitude activates the brain’s reward circuits, strengthening positive neural patterns. (Hanson, Hardwiring Happiness, 2013) |
| David Steindl-Rast | Theology & Spirituality, 1990s–2010s | Thankfulness is the foundation of joy and contentment regardless of circumstance. (Steindl-Rast, Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer, 1984) |
| Barbara Fredrickson | Positive Psychology, 2000s–2020s | Gratitude expands one’s capacity for positive emotion and builds long-term well-being. (Fredrickson, Positivity, 2009) |
| Andrew Newberg | Neurotheology, 2010s | Grateful prayer improves brain function, boosting empathy and emotional stability. (Newberg & Waldman, How God Changes Your Brain, 2009) |
| Paul Mills | Medicine & Psychology, 2015 | Gratitude correlates with lower inflammation and improved heart health. (Mills et al., Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 2015) |
| Robert A. Emmons (meta-study) | Health Psychology, 2020s | Gratitude reduces biomarkers of stress and boosts immune function. (Emmons, The Science of Gratitude, 2021) |
| Alex Wood | Psychology, 2010s | Grateful individuals have lower blood pressure and healthier sleep patterns. (Wood et al., Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 2009) |
| Joel Wong | Counseling Psychology, 2016 | Writing gratitude letters improves long-term mental health outcomes. (Wong et al., Journal of Happiness Studies, 2016) |
| Giovanni Fava | Psychiatry, 2000s | Gratitude-based cognitive therapy enhances mood stability and reduces relapse in depression. (Fava et al., Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2005) |
| Nancy Sin | Health Psychology, 2017 | Grateful people show lower cortisol and healthier daily emotion regulation. (Sin et al., Emotion, 2017) |
| Sara Algoe | Relationship Science, 2010s | Gratitude improves romantic and social relationship quality through mutual appreciation. (Algoe et al., Emotion, 2010) |
| Robert Cloninger | Psychiatry & Personality Science, 2000s | Gratitude correlates with self-transcendence and lower neuroticism. (Cloninger, Feeling Good, 2004) |
| David DeSteno | Social Psychology, 2014 | Gratitude increases self-control and healthier long-term decisions. (DeSteno et al., Emotion, 2014) |
| Lisa Aspinwall | Psychology, 1998 | Grateful individuals cope better with trauma and perceive challenges as manageable. (Aspinwall, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1998) |
| Toni Antonucci | Gerontology, 2010s | Older adults who practice gratitude show better physical health and longevity. (Antonucci et al., Psychology and Aging, 2013) |
| David Rosmarin | Clinical Psychology, 2011 | Gratitude-based spiritual therapy reduces anxiety and improves sleep. (Rosmarin et al., Cognitive Therapy and Research, 2011) |
| Kennon Sheldon | Positive Psychology, 2000s | Gratitude enhances motivation and sustained personal growth. (Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, Motivation and Emotion, 2006) |
| Stephen Post | Medical Humanities, 2000s | Thankfulness strengthens compassion and resilience among caregivers. (Post, Why Good Things Happen to Good People, 2007) |
| Philip Watkins | Psychology, 2010s | Grateful memories strengthen positive mood regulation and mental resilience. (Watkins, Gratitude and the Good Life, 2014) |
| Kristin Neff | Self-Compassion Research, 2010s | Gratitude combined with self-kindness enhances emotional recovery. (Neff, Self-Compassion, 2011) |
| Anthony Grant | Coaching Psychology, 2013 | Gratitude interventions improve workplace well-being and performance. (Grant & Spence, The Coaching Psychologist, 2013) |
| Glenn Fox | Neuroscience, 2015 | Brain scans show gratitude engages moral cognition and reward systems. (Fox et al., Frontiers in Psychology, 2015) |
| Harold Koenig | Religion & Health, 2010s | Thankful prayer practices correlate with lower blood pressure and stress. (Koenig, Handbook of Religion and Health, 2012) |
| Cheryl Carmichael | Social Psychology, 2017 | Gratitude buffers loneliness and promotes social connectedness. (Carmichael et al., Emotion, 2017) |
| Nancy Utley | Counseling, 2018 | Daily gratitude rituals reduce anxiety levels by up to 30%. (Utley & Garza, Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 2018) |
| Ellen Langer | Mindfulness Psychology, 1989–2010s | Gratitude reinforces mindful awareness and lowers cognitive stress. (Langer, Mindfulness, 1989) |
| Robert Waldinger | Psychiatry, 2010s–2020s | Gratitude strengthens relationships, which in turn predicts longevity. (Waldinger et al., Harvard Study of Adult Development, 2015) |
| Kelly McGonigal | Health Psychology, 2010s | Grateful thinking transforms stress into growth-promoting energy. (McGonigal, The Upside of Stress, 2015) |
| Deepak Chopra | Integrative Medicine, 1990s–2020s | Gratitude supports neurochemical balance and heart rate coherence. (Chopra, The Healing Self, 2018) |
| Richard Davidson | Affective Neuroscience, 2000s–2020s | Gratitude activates left prefrontal cortex, linked to positive emotion. (Davidson, The Emotional Life of Your Brain, 2012) |
| Laura King | Psychology, 2001 | Gratitude journaling increases life meaning and reduces existential anxiety. (King, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2001) |
| Tali Sharot | Neuroscience, 2010s | Thankfulness biases memory toward positive outcomes, improving outlook. (Sharot, The Optimism Bias, 2011) |
| Patricia Lynn Dobkin | Health Psychology, 2016 | Gratitude-based mindfulness improves immune system recovery after illness. (Dobkin et al., Mindfulness, 2016) |
| William George Wilson | Theology, mid-1900s | Gratitude transforms despair into recovery; core principle of AA’s 12 steps. (Wilson, Alcoholics Anonymous, 1939) |
| Jon Kabat-Zinn | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, 1990s–2020s | Grateful awareness reduces chronic pain perception and blood pressure. (Kabat-Zinn, Full Catastrophe Living, 1990) |
| David Myers | Social Psychology, 1990s–2010s | Grateful individuals report twice the level of happiness than average. (Myers, The Pursuit of Happiness, 1992) |
| Marci Shimoff | Positive Psychology, 2009 | Thankfulness enhances serotonin and dopamine levels naturally. (Shimoff, Happy for No Reason, 2009) |
| Arthur Brooks | Sociology & Happiness Studies, 2010s–2020s | Grateful people are more generous and experience more life satisfaction. (Brooks, Love Your Enemies, 2019) |
| Christopher Peterson | Positive Psychology, 2000s | Gratitude is the core strength underlying resilience and optimism. (Peterson & Seligman, Character Strengths and Virtues, 2004) |
| Sharon Salzberg | Contemplative Psychology, 2010s | Gratitude meditation reduces emotional reactivity and fosters peace. (Salzberg, Real Happiness, 2010) |
| Mark Robert Waldman | Neuropsychology, 2016 | Expressing gratitude reorganizes brain networks linked to empathy and joy. (Waldman & Newberg, Words Can Change Your Brain, 2016) |
| Frederic Luskin | Psychology & Forgiveness Research, 2000s | Gratitude training decreases anger and chronic stress symptoms. (Luskin, Forgive for Good, 2003) |
| Dacher Keltner | Social Psychology, 2000s–2020s | Gratitude strengthens social trust and pro-social behavior. (Keltner, Born to Be Good, 2009) |
| Roy Baumeister | Social Psychology, 2010s | Gratitude replenishes self-control resources, reducing burnout. (Baumeister et al., Social Psychology Review, 2011) |
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