20 Bible verses about thankfulness to God

Note: Images taken prior to the CDC’s recommendation to wear masks in public.

One of the best things about thankfulness is that the more you choose it, the easier it gets. The more you profess gratitude, the more you notice things to be grateful for. The thankfulness muscles respond to exercise!

Gratitude can also change our actions. World Vision advocates — though the work is challenging — are grateful for the opportunity to speak up for the rights of vulnerable kids and families. From a place of gratitude they are compelled to act — and then they’re grateful when their actions get results! By sharing our gratitude with our leaders, we can help encourage them to continue making compassionate decisions.

“I am sure that gratitude is not something our senators hear often and we want to be sure they know when we are proud of them for supporting legislature that is God-honoring.”

— Volunteer Advocate Tracie Miranda Hess

In this spirit, we join with advocates all over the world to give thanks to our God for all that he’s done and all he’s doing! Here are 20 Bible verses about thankfulness that remind us to be thankful to our God. (All verses from the New International Version.)

Chen shows thankfulness for corn
Chen is an 11-year old third grader and a World Vision sponsored child in China. (©2018 World Vision/photo by Ben Adams)

Old Testament thankfulness verses:

1. Ezra 3:11

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:

“He is good;
    his love toward Israel endures forever.”

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 

2. 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.

3. Psalm 9:1

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

4. Psalm 35:18

I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
    among the throngs I will praise you.

little girl prays to God
A girl prays during a baptism service at a church in Kalawa, Kenya. (©2018 World Vision/photo by Jon Warren)

5. Psalm 69:30

I will praise God’s name in song
    and glorify him with thanksgiving.

6. Psalm 95:1-3

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.

7. Psalm 100:4-5

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.

8. Psalm 106:1

Praise the Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

Staff hugs a young girl in Colombia
World Vision staff member Yezenia Castellanos Leon hugs a student after she interviewed with World Vision U.S. visitors in Cucuta, Colombia. (©2019 World Vision/photo by Chris Huber)

9. Psalm 107:21-22

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings
    and tell of his works with songs of joy.

10. Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

11. Psalm 147:7

Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;
    make music to our God on the harp.

12. Daniel 2:23

I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
    You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
    you have made known to us the dream of the king.

Nur’s children and family receive food aid from World Vision and the World Food Programme. (©2019 World Vision)

New Testament:

13. Ephesians 5:18-20

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

14. Philippians 4:6-7

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.

15. Colossians 2:6-7

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.

girl thankful for goat
“I am so happy to get 3 goats for my family, they are so lovely.” Srey Len, 7, lives with her family in Cambodia. (©2019 World Vision)

16. Colossians 3:15-17

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.

17. Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

18. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19. Hebrews 12:28-29

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

20. Hebrews 13:15-16

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

When the peace of Christ rules in our hearts, thankfulness overflows. Even in the darkest of times, we can praise God for his love, his sovereignty, and his promise to be near us when we call (Psalm 145:18).

Thank you, Lord, for your peace that transcends understanding and your love that endures forever. Amen!

Next: 30 Bible verses about God’s call to love others

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Top photo: Reverend Laweh Otoo, an ordained minister, serves in Somanhyia, Ghana. (©2018 World Vision/photo by Ben Adams)

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