There are a surprising number of Bible verses about gratitude, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Gratitude in the Bible is the proper response to the blessings that God bestows upon us. It is the right response to the promise of salvation and resurrection. It is also the right response to the challenges and obstacles that we face in our lives.
We can be grateful to God even in the trying times because we know that he is ultimately in control, and that he works all things for good. Ultimately, God promises to restore and redeem all things (Revelation 21:15). And so, we can be grateful even for the hard stuff.
What does the Bible say about gratitude?
What does the Bible say about being thankful and grateful?
We can find Bible verses about gratitude that remind us to be thankful in all circumstances, and to be thankful for each other. We can find Bible verses that remind us that all good things come from God, and that the proper response to blessings in our lives is praise and gratitude. The Bible tells us to be thankful for salvation, and for the kingdom of God that we receive as his children.
Thankfulness and gratitude are the proper response to all the gifts of God in our lives, whether those gifts come in the form of things or people that bring us joy, challenges and obstacles that test us, or the ultimate promise of salvation and the restoration of all things.
Examples of Gratitude in the Bible
Jesus himself gives us an excellent example of gratitude in the Bible. In the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus and his disciples find themselves in a remote place with a large crowd of people as evening approaches. The disciples tell Jesus that he should send the people away so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves food. Instead, Jesus tells his disciples to give the crowds something to eat. The disciples reply that they only have five loaves of bread and two fish. “Bring them to me,” Jesus replies. He then gives thanks for the food, breaks the loaves, and has his disciples distribute them to the people, famously feeding over 5000 people with what they had.
In this story, Jesus shows us how the role of gratitude and blessing is reversed from how we normally think of it. Jesus is not grateful here because he has enough. He is grateful first. And then, quite literally, gratitude turns what he has into enough.
Jonah gives us another great example of gratitude in the Old Testament. Jonah, after volunteering to be thrown overboard in order to save the other men on the ship (because of a storm that threatened to capsize them, brought on by Jonah’s fleeing from God’s plan), lands in the belly of a whale. While still in the belly of the whale, Jonah gives thanks to God.
This is another important lesson that we learn about gratitude in the Bible: we can give thanks even in dire circumstances because we know that God is in control.
Why is Gratitude Important to God?
Gratitude is important to God because it shows our trust in him. We can be thankful for the good things in our lives and acknowledge that all good things come from God. When we thank God for the blessings in our lives, we acknowledge that he is the source of all good things.
When we gives thanks even in trying times, we show our trust even more. Like Jonah, if we give thanks in dire circumstances, we are showing that we trust that God is in control. Like Jesus, when we give thanks even when we don’t have enough – or even before we have what we need – then we are showing that we trust God to provide for our needs.
Gratitude acknowledges that God is sovereign and it helps us to remember that it is God – and not us – who is in control.
New Testament Verses about Gratitude
These Bible verses about gratitude in the New Testament focus not just on being grateful for the blessings in our lives, but also being grateful for the challenges.
God wants us to give thanks in all circumstances. We can do this, even in the hard times, because we know that God promises to restore and redeem all things. We are promised salvation and resurrection through Christ Jesus, and so we can be grateful in all circumstances. We can be grateful that the we know how the story ends, and that in the end, God wins.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
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. – 2 Corinthians 4:15
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. – Colossians 2:6-7
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:57
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. – Ephesians 1:16
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. – 2 Thessalonians 1:3
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! – 2 Corinthians 9:15
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. – Colossians 2:6-7
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. – Colossians 4:2
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. – 1 Timothy 4:4-5
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. – Philippians 1:3
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Corinthians 1:4
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17
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. – Colossians 3:17
In every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. – Acts 24:3
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 6:21
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 5:20
…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. – Colossian 1:12
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. – Hebrews 12:28
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. – Hebrews 13:15
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. – Revelation 4:9-10
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. – Revelation 11:17
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. – 1 Timothy 2:1
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. – Romans 1:21
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. – 2 Corinthians 9:11
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-4
On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;… – Luke 17:11-19
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. – John 11:41
Old Testament Verses about Gratitude
These Bible verses about gratitude in the Old Testament focus on the goodness and the greatness of God. We can be thankful that God loves us, that he guides us, that he is ultimately in control and that he promises to redeem all things (“Salvation comes from the Lord.” – Jonah 2:9).
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34
But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. – 1 Samuel 12:24
I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving. – Psalm 69:30
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. – 1 Chronicles 16:8
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. – Psalm 28:7
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. – Psalm 95:2
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. – Psalm 9:1
The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. – Psalm 118:24
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! – Psalm 110:4
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. – Psalm 107:8-9
To you, oh God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and power. – Daniel 2:23
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. – Psalm 7:17
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. – Psalm 35:18
For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. – Psalm 52:9
Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise. – Psalm 79:13
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. – Psalm 86:12
Save us, Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. – Psalm 106:47
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. – Psalm 100:4-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. – Psalm 103:1-5
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23
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.’ – Jonah 2:9
On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people. – 1 Kings 8:66