Summary
Short bible verses about thanksgiving and gratitude
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Short bible verses about thanksgiving and gratitude
The Ultimate Collection: 60+ Short Bible Verses on Gratitude & Thanksgiving
Part 1: The Verses (Short, Memorizable, Powerful)
I have curated these specifically for their brevity and impact. Perfect for social media, wall art, or quick prayers.
Psalms of Thanksgiving
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Psalm 107:1 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.”
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Psalm 118:1 – “His steadfast love endures forever.”
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Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving.”
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Psalm 100:4 – “Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
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Psalm 136:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.”
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Psalm 30:12 – “O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”
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Psalm 9:1 – “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.”
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Psalm 7:17 – “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness.”
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Psalm 28:7 – “My heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”
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Psalm 106:1 – “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord.”
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Psalm 105:1 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name.”
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Psalm 119:62 – “At midnight I rise to praise you.”
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Psalm 147:7 – “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving.”
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Psalm 95:2 – “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving.”
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Psalm 118:21 – “I thank you that you have answered me.”
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Psalm 118:28 – “You are my God, and I will give thanks to you.”
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Psalm 138:1 – “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart.”
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Psalm 138:2 – “I give thanks to your name for your steadfast love.”
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Psalm 140:13 – “Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name.”
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Psalm 50:14 – “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving.”
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Psalm 92:1 – “It is good to give thanks to the Lord.”
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Psalm 33:2 – “Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre.”
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Psalm 54:6 – “I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.”
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Psalm 75:1 – “We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks.”
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Psalm 79:13 – “We your people… will give thanks to you forever.”
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Psalm 35:18 – “I will thank you in the great congregation.”
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Psalm 52:9 – “I will thank you forever, because you have done it.”
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Psalm 56:12 – “I will perform vows of thanksgiving to you.”
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Psalm 116:17 – “I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving.”
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Psalm 145:10 – “All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord.”
New Testament Commands & Examples
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1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances.”
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Ephesians 5:20 – “Giving thanks always and for everything.”
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Colossians 3:15 – “And be thankful.”
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Colossians 3:17 – “Giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
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Philippians 4:6 – “With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
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Colossians 4:2 – “Continue steadfastly in prayer… with thanksgiving.”
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2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”
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1 Corinthians 15:57 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory.”
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2 Corinthians 2:14 – “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us.”
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Romans 1:8 – “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you.”
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1 Corinthians 1:4 – “I give thanks to my God always for you.”
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Philippians 1:3 – “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.”
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Philemon 1:4 – “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.”
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1 Timothy 4:4 – “Nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”
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Revelation 11:17 – “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty.”
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Luke 17:16 – “He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.”
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Acts 28:15 – “On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.”
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Romans 6:17 – “But thanks be to God, that you… have become obedient.”
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Romans 7:25 – “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
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2 Thessalonians 1:3 – “We ought always to give thanks to God for you.”
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1 Thessalonians 5:16 – “Rejoice always.” (Closely linked to gratitude).
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Hebrews 12:28 – “Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.”
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James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.”
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2 Corinthians 4:15 – “Increase thanksgiving to the glory of God.”
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2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way… producing thanksgiving.”
Wisdom & Prophets
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1 Chronicles 16:34 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.”
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1 Chronicles 16:8 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name.”
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1 Chronicles 29:13 – “And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.”
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Ezra 3:11 – “They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord.”
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Daniel 2:23 – “To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise.”
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Jonah 2:9 – “But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you.”
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Jeremiah 33:11 – “Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good.”
Part 2: Top 25 Forum Q&A (Believer Insights)
I have scanned top threads on r/Christianity, GotQuestions, and BibleStudyTools to find what people are really asking.
1. Q: Why does the Bible say to give thanks “in” all circumstances, not “for” all circumstances? A: (1 Thess 5:18) We don’t thank God for evil or tragedy. We thank Him in the midst of it because He is still good, He is with us, and He can redeem it.
2. Q: What if I don’t feel thankful? Is it fake to say it? A: No. Thanksgiving is a discipline (“Sacrifice of Thanksgiving” – Ps 50:14). It is an act of obedience. Often, the feeling of gratitude follows the spoken word.
3. Q: Can gratitude help with depression? A: Many believers and psychologists agree. Gratitude forces the brain to scan for the positive (God’s grace) rather than the negative (lack). It shifts the spiritual atmosphere.
4. Q: What is the shortest verse about thanks? A: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (“Give thanks”) or Psalm 107:1 are among the shortest and most quoted.
5. Q: How do I teach my toddler to be thankful? A: Use Psalm 107:1. Have them say “God is Good!” every time they get a snack or a toy. Repetition creates culture.
6. Q: Is it okay to thank God for material things? A: Yes. James 1:17 says “Every good gift” comes from Him. Thanking Him for coffee, a car, or a house acknowledges Him as the Provider.
7. Q: What is the difference between Praise and Thanksgiving? A: Thanksgiving is for what God has done (His acts). Praise is for who God is (His nature). They often overlap.
8. Q: Why did Jesus give thanks before breaking bread? A: To set a pattern. He acknowledged the Father as the source of sustenance, consecrating the common meal.
9. Q: I’m angry at God. How can I be thankful? A: Start small. Thank Him that you are breathing. Thank Him that He handles your anger. Honesty is better than silence.
10. Q: Does being thankful mean I can’t ask for more? A: No. Philippians 4:6 says to make your requests known with thanksgiving. Gratitude is the platform from which we launch our petitions.
11. Q: How often should I give thanks? A: Ephesians 5:20 says “Always.” It should be the background noise of your life.
12. Q: What is a good verse for a Thank You card? A: Philippians 1:3 (“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you”) is the classic standard.
13. Q: Can ungratefulness block prayers? A: It can hinder intimacy. If we ignore what He has already done, we approach Him with a spirit of entitlement rather than humility.
14. Q: What is the best Psalm for Thanksgiving Day? A: Psalm 100 (“Enter his gates with thanksgiving”) is the traditional favorite.
15. Q: Is “Thanks be to God” a complete prayer? A: Meister Eckhart said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
16. Q: How do I handle ungrateful people biblically? A: Model gratitude. Don’t scold them. Let your light shine. “Do all things without grumbling” (Phil 2:14).
17. Q: Why is the Eucharist called Thanksgiving? A: The Greek word Eucharisteo means “to give thanks.” It is the central act of Christian worship.
18. Q: Does gratitude increase faith? A: Yes. Remembering past faithfulness (thanksgiving) builds confidence for future provision (faith).
19. Q: What if I forget to pray before eating? A: God isn’t legalistic. You can thank Him after or during. It’s about the heart posture, not the ritual.
20. Q: Can I thank God for my enemies? A: You can thank God for what He is teaching you through them and for His command to love them.
21. Q: How do I start a gratitude journal? A: Just write one verse (like Ps 118:1) and three bullet points of what happened today. Keep it simple.
22. Q: Is gratitude a form of spiritual warfare? A: Absolutely. Satan breeds discontent. Gratitude is the weapon that destroys the spirit of entitlement and heaviness.
23. Q: What verse helps with anxiety and gratitude? A: Colossians 3:15 (“Let the peace of Christ rule… and be thankful”).
24. Q: Why did the leper return to thank Jesus? A: To complete the circle of relationship. The others got the healing; he got the Healer.
25. Q: How do I thank God when I feel lonely? A: Thank Him that He will “never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5).
Part 3: 20 Actionable Tips for Daily Application
At Work & Career
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The “Start-Up” Password: Change your computer password to a reference like Ps107v1 to force yourself to type/think a thanksgiving verse every morning.
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Email Sign-off: Occasionally use “With gratitude” instead of “Best,” and mean it.
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The Commute Reset: When stuck in traffic, instead of fuming, recite 1 Thess 5:18. Thank God for the car, the gas, and the job you are driving to.
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Conflict Diffuser: Before replying to a stressful email, whisper “Thank you God that you are in control.” It lowers your heart rate.
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Friday Reflection: Spend the last 5 minutes of the work week listing 3 things that went right.
In Studies (School/University)
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Exam Header: Write a tiny “Thank you God for my mind” at the top of your notebook or exam paper.
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Study Breaks: Instead of scrolling, take 1 minute to read Psalm 100. It refreshes the spirit better than Instagram.
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Professor Appreciation: Genuine gratitude stands out. Thank your teacher for a specific lecture. It reflects the light of Christ.
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The “Hard Subject” Prayer: “Lord, thank you for the challenge of Math. Help me grow.”
Social Life & Friends
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The “Random Text”: Send one friend a text: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you (Phil 1:3). Just appreciating you today.”
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No-Gossip Zone: When conversation turns negative, pivot with: “But hey, honestly, aren’t we lucky that…” (Inject gratitude).
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Digital Detox: Replace 15 minutes of social media with writing 3 thank-you notes (or texts) to people who helped you recently.
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Hospitality: When hosting, pray a blessing of thanks over your guests as they arrive.
Family & Home
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The “Sticky Note” Blitz: Post short verses (like Col 3:15) on the bathroom mirror, the fridge, and the back door.
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Dinner Ritual: Instead of just “grace,” ask “What is one ‘God-thing’ that happened today?”
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Bedtime Liturgy: End the day by thanking God for 3 things with your spouse/kids. It programs the brain for peaceful sleep.
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Discipline with Thanks: When correcting a child, start by affirming them: “I am so thankful God gave you to me, and because I love you…”
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Chore Reframe: As you do laundry, say “Thank you Lord that we have clothes.” As you do dishes, “Thank you that we had food.”
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Spouse Affirmation: Thank your spouse for one routine thing (making coffee, working) every single day.
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The “Crisis” Response: Train yourself so that when something breaks (a glass, a car part), your first instinct is “It’s just stuff. Thank you, Lord, we are safe.”

