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
GRATITUDE IS THE FAST-TRACK TO INTIMACY WITH GOD
Psalm 100 says that we "enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise". What a beautiful guide into the presence of God. In His presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16) and it is in His presence that we are transformed (2 Corinthians 3). Holy Spirit is the one who transforms us and our goal as followers of Jesus should be centered around becoming more like Jesus!
The Bible instructs us to "give thanks" 173 times between the Old and New Testaments with an additional 157 times speaking about gratitude. Jesus himself gave thanks many times and instructed his disciples to do the same. Jesus is THE model for how to live our lives and so when we see him live a lifestyle of obedience and thankfulness, we must adopt this into our lives as well.
Even modern psychology reveals the innumerable benefits to living a life of thankfulness showing that it can lead to improved physical health, increased happiness, enhanced empathy, better self-esteem, greater resilience, reduced materialism, stronger relationships, better sleep, less fatigue, lower levels of cellular inflammation, and overall greater resiliency.
GIVING THANKS WITH NOTHING:
The children in our Child Sponsorship Program display perhaps the most profound faith our team has witnessed, they are deeply grateful each and every month when the truck arrives bringing another month's worth of food.
Their gratefulness is leading to blessings that go far beyond earthly gains in each of their lives. You can see it for yourself over time with every new picture update. Eyes that were hard and hopeless shine with joy and life, promise and hope!
TO GET YOU STARTED...
Sometimes it can be hard to know where to begin, with so much going on in each of our lives it can be hard to 'zero in' on expressing our heart of gratitude to God. Follow along with the following as you move into a lifestyle of greater thankfulness.
1. Praise God for His Goodness
The Psalms are filled with expressions of gratitude and praise, reminding us to thank God for His character, provision, and faithfulness.
- “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” – Psalm 100:4
Gratitude is an act of worship, and acknowledging God’s goodness is at the heart of our thankfulness.
2. Be Grateful for God’s Provision
Scripture teaches us to recognize and give thanks for the many ways God provides for our needs.
- “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
Acknowledging God as the source of every good gift helps us cultivate a grateful mindset.
3. Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude
The Bible teaches that gratitude should be a continual, inward attitude that affects how we interact with others and with God.
- “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
Gratitude should permeate every aspect of our lives—whether in work, relationships, or in worship.
4. Give Thanks for Salvation
One of the deepest sources of gratitude in the Bible is the salvation that God provides through Jesus Christ. Christians are encouraged to be thankful for the gift of eternal life and forgiveness.
- “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15
The gift of salvation is a reason for endless gratitude.
5. Be Humble in Gratitude
True gratitude involves humility, recognizing that all we have is a gift from God, not something we have earned.
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6
This verse encourages us to approach God with a thankful heart, trusting that He will meet our needs.
6. Gratitude as a Lifestyle
The Bible encourages a lifestyle of continual gratitude, not just in specific moments of worship, but as an ongoing expression of a heart aligned with God's will.
- “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
Living in peace and unity with others, and being thankful for that, reflects a life lived with a grateful heart.
7. Sharing Gratitude with Others
Thankfulness is also something that should be shared with others, both as an expression of God’s goodness to us and as an encouragement to others.
- “Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” – Hebrews 13:15
Gratitude should flow from our hearts and be shared openly with others, giving glory to God.
8. Gratitude in Prayer
Gratitude should be a regular part of our prayer life, as we thank God for His blessings, guidance, and presence.
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6
Praying with thanksgiving helps to shift our focus from worries to God’s provision and faithfulness.
9. Your turn
By now you will have entered the Presence of God in a new way. Maybe you are feeling something physically, a sense of His presence with you, a peace that passes your understanding or maybe the Bible is coming alive to you in a new way... maybe you're on the floor right now stunned at His goodness! It might be something else too! Whatever the case I encourage you to praise Him for who he is, what He has done and thank Him for meeting with you.
What else are you thankful for? He will never grow tired of hearing you and spending time with you.
SPONSOR A WAITING CHILD
There are many children waiting right now for a sponsor! Many of them are already giving thanks ahead of time that God will send them a sponsor.
Will you be the answer to that prayer today?

