Did you know that being grateful is a way of honoring and acknowledging God in your daily life? God does not need anything from you. However, gratitude toward God can be a way of living for those who have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus. God loves you unconditionally. God cares for you faithfully. God gives to you out of His abundance, and you will never be able to “pay back” God for all His love, care, and blessings in your life.
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Gratitude puts your focus on God and not yourself or your circumstances.
When your focus is on God, you tend to be more grateful because that is who God is (i.e., His character) and what you observe in Him. Gratitude is learned through your relationship with God and by observing and modeling those who practice gratitude toward God.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
When you see someone give to another person – a kind word, a friendly smile, a thoughtful response, or an act of generosity – not expecting anything in return, you could be observing the love and care God gives toward people. Demonstrating genuine love and care for another person is a visible and practical way to show gratitude toward God in response to God’s love, care, and blessings in your life.
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. Those are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:15-16
What does daily gratitude do in your life? Daily gratitude combats your sinful nature of being selfish and self-focused all the time. Being grateful to God is a way of honoring and acknowledging that God is the Creator and sustainer of all things, not you. You can learn from God how to live the life He intended for you and become who He created you to be.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. … Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. Colossians 3:1-5, 10
Gratitude is a discipline, not merely an attitude or emotion.
You choose gratitude regardless of the circumstances because you choose to focus on God – His character, His love, His care, and His blessings in your life – the new life you have in Jesus. You may not be happy (emotional response) about certain circumstances. You may not be thankful for a problem or difficulty in your life, but you can choose gratitude, which means you direct your focus toward God and allow your life to be transformed by God while He directs you through the circumstances.
Gratitude is not a feeling as much as it is a choice.
You recognize you are truly loved by God regardless of your circumstances. God’s love for you and His faithfulness to you do not wane or change – they are constant and forever.
If you have ever read through the Book of Psalms, you realize that the authors of these songs direct you to sing with a grateful heart because of God’s unfailing love and God’s faithfulness that endures forever. Here are just a few verses from the Psalms that direct you to share your gratitude toward God.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues to each generation. Psalm 100:4-5
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me. Psalm 103:2
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done. Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds. Psalm 105:1-2
Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can every praise Him enough? Psalm 106:1-2
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 107:1
In Psalm 136, the song is repetitive with the phrase, “Give thanks to the Lord for …” and then the writer inserts reasons for gratitude toward God. Ultimately, the songwriter directs you to demonstrate gratitude toward God for God’s character and His love, which endures forever.
Gratitude is not just about singing praise to God. According to the apostle Paul, gratitude can also be about relationships with other believers in Jesus and God using your life to make Jesus known to others.
But thank God! He has made us [Paul, Timothy] His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15a
Make gratitude toward God a part of your daily life. Your consistent gratitude is a way to focus on God, combat your selfishness, make God known to others, and ultimately bring God glory! Practice gratitude as a way of living!
