Bible verse about giving thanks

Summary

Bible verse about giving thanks

Bible verse about giving thanks

The Sacrifice of Praise: 65 Bible Verses About Giving Thanks

 

Gratitude is the heartbeat of the Christian faith. From the ancient Psalms to the letters of Paul written in prison, the command to “give thanks” echoes through every page of Scripture. Here is a curated collection of the most powerful verses on thanksgiving.

I. The Command to Give Thanks

 

Direct instructions to maintain a posture of gratitude.

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

2. Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

3. Colossians 3:15 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

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.”

5. Ephesians 5:20 – “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

6. Psalm 107:1 – “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

7. Psalm 118:1 – “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

8. Psalm 136:1 – “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

9. 1 Chronicles 16:34 – “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

10. Psalm 105:1 – “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.”

11. Psalm 33:2 – “Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.”

12. Psalm 50:14 – “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High.”

13. Colossians 4:2 – “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

14. Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

II. Thanksgiving in the Psalms

 

The prayer book of the Bible, overflowing with gratitude.

15. Psalm 7:17 – “I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.”

16. Psalm 9:1 – “I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”

17. Psalm 28:7 – “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

18. Psalm 30:4 – “Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.”

19. Psalm 30:12 – “That my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.”

20. Psalm 69:30 – “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.”

21. Psalm 95:2 – “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”

22. Psalm 106:1 – “Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

23. Psalm 118:21 – “I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.”

24. Psalm 118:28 – “You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.”

25. Psalm 138:1 – “I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise.”

26. Psalm 147:7 – “Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.”

27. Psalm 35:18 – “I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.”

28. Psalm 52:9 – “For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.”

29. Psalm 75:1 – “We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds.”

30. Psalm 79:13 – “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.”

31. Psalm 100:5 – “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

32. Psalm 103:2 – “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

33. Psalm 116:17 – “I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.”

34. Psalm 119:62 – “At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.”

35. Psalm 140:13 – “Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.”

III. Thanksgiving for God’s Gifts and Grace

 

Acknowledging the source of every blessing.

36. James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”

37. 2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

38. 1 Timothy 4:4-5 – “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”

39. 1 Chronicles 29:13 – “Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”

40. Daniel 2:23 – “I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power.”

41. Romans 6:17 – “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.”

42. 1 Corinthians 1:4 – “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”

43. 1 Corinthians 15:57 – “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

44. 2 Corinthians 2:14 – “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

45. Revelation 11:17 – “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.”

46. Luke 17:15-16 – “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.”

47. John 11:41 – “Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.'”

48. Romans 7:25 – “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

49. 1 Timothy 1:12 – “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.”

50. Revelation 7:12 – “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

IV. Thanksgiving in Prayer and Community

 

Gratitude as a communal and intercessory act.

51. Philippians 1:3 – “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

52. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 – “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.”

53. Philemon 1:4 – “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers.”

54. Romans 1:8 – “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”

55. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 – “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more.”

56. Colossians 1:3 – “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.”

57. Colossians 1:12 – “and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”

58. Colossians 2:7 – “Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

59. Ephesians 1:16 – “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

60. 2 Corinthians 4:15 – “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”

61. 2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

62. Jeremiah 30:19 – “From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing.”

63. Jonah 2:9 – “But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’”

64. Hebrews 12:28 – “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

65. Ezra 3:11 – “With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: ‘He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.'”

25 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Giving Thanks in the Bible

 

Q1: What is the main Bible verse about giving thanks? A: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is the most cited: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Q2: Why is thanksgiving important to God? A: Thanksgiving acknowledges God as the source of all good (James 1:17), glorifies Him (Psalm 50:23), and keeps our hearts humble and dependent on Him.

Q3: What is the difference between praise and thanksgiving? A: Thanksgiving focuses on what God has done (His works and gifts). Praise focuses on who God is (His character and nature). They often go hand-in-hand.

Q4: How can I give thanks when I am suffering? A: The Bible commands us to give thanks in all circumstances, not necessarily for the evil itself. We thank God for His presence, His promises, and His ultimate plan even in pain (Romans 8:28).

Q5: What does “sacrifice of praise” mean? A: Referenced in Hebrews 13:15, it means praising and thanking God when it is difficult, when it costs us our pride, or when we don’t “feel” like it. It is an act of the will.

Q6: Did Jesus give thanks? A: Yes, frequently. He gave thanks before feeding the 5,000 (John 6:11), at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19), and even before raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41).

Q7: What is the “Eucharist”? A: The word “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word eucharisteo, which means “to give thanks.” It refers to the Lord’s Supper, the ultimate act of thanksgiving for Christ’s sacrifice.

Q8: Is being ungrateful a sin? A: Yes. In Romans 1:21, Paul describes the downward spiral of humanity beginning with: “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him.”

Q9: What Psalm is best for Thanksgiving Day? A: Psalm 100 is the classic “Psalm of Thanksgiving.” Psalm 136 (“His love endures forever”) is also perfect for responsive reading.

Q10: Can gratitude improve my mental health? A: Yes. Philippians 4:6-7 links thanksgiving directly to peace of mind and the guarding of our hearts against anxiety.

Q11: How do I make thanksgiving a habit? A: Start a gratitude journal, pray Colossians 4:2 (devote yourself to prayer with thanksgiving), or simply start every prayer by listing three things you are thankful for.

Q12: What does it mean to enter His gates with thanksgiving? A: From Psalm 100:4, it means that gratitude is the “access code” to God’s presence. We approach Him not with entitlement, but with appreciation.

Q13: Are there examples of ungrateful people in the Bible? A: The Israelites in the desert frequently grumbled and complained despite God’s provision (manna), which often led to judgment (Numbers 11).

Q14: What scripture can I use for a thank you card? A: Philippians 1:3 (“I thank my God every time I remember you”) or 1 Corinthians 1:4 (“I always thank my God for you”) are excellent.

Q15: Does thanksgiving increase faith? A: Yes. Remembering what God has done in the past (thanksgiving) builds our confidence that He will provide in the future (faith).

Q16: What is the connection between thanksgiving and peace? A: Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… And be thankful.” Gratitude focuses the mind on God’s sufficiency, displacing worry.

Q17: How often should we give thanks? A: Ephesians 5:20 says “Always.” Psalm 34:1 says “His praise will always be on my lips.” It is a continuous lifestyle.

Q18: What if I don’t have anything to be thankful for? A: As a believer, you always have salvation. Colossians 1:12 tells us to thank the Father who has qualified us for the inheritance of the saints.

Q19: How do I teach my children to be thankful? A: Use 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Model it at the dinner table. Read the story of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17), where only one returned to say thank you.

Q20: Can thanksgiving defeat the enemy? A: Yes. Praise and thanksgiving confuse the enemy (2 Chronicles 20). It is a weapon that declares God’s sovereignty over the situation.

Q21: What does “abounding in thanksgiving” mean? A: From Colossians 2:7, it means overflowing. Our gratitude should not be scarce or forced, but a natural, abundant overflow of a walk with Christ.

Q22: Is thanksgiving a form of prayer? A: Yes. It is one of the essential types of prayer, alongside adoration, confession, and supplication (ACTS model).

Q23: Why do we say grace before meals? A: To follow Jesus’ example (Matt 15:36) and to acknowledge that God is the provider of our daily bread (1 Timothy 4:4-5).

Q24: What does Jeremiah 30:19 mean by “songs of thanksgiving”? A: It refers to the restoration of Israel. Joy and thanksgiving are signs of God’s blessing and restoration returning to a people.

Q25: How does thanksgiving relate to the will of God? A: Many people search for God’s specific will (jobs, spouses). 1 Thessalonians 5:18 gives us His revealed will: to be thankful in every situation. Start there, and the rest often follows.