Thankfulness

Heartfelt gratitude to God, expressed in response to his love and mercy.

Thankfulness for God's goodness

Psalm 100:4–5 See also 1 Chronicles 16:8, 1 Chronicles 16:34–35; 2 Chronicles 7:3–6; Ezra 3:10–11; Psalm 68:19, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 116:12–14, Psalm 136:1–3, Psalm 136:26; Isaiah 63:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Hebrews 12:28

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.

Thankfulness for deliverance

From adversity

Psalm 35:9–10 See also Psalm 31:7–8, Psalm 31:21–23, Psalm 44:6–8, Psalm 66:8–9, Psalm 66:16–20, Psalm 103:1–5

Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation. All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?”

From slavery in Egypt

Exodus 15:20–21 See also Exodus 15:1–18; Psalm 105:1–45, Psalm 136:1–26

Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang back to them: “Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.”

From the power of death

1 Corinthians 15:53–57

For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Thankfulness for answered prayer

1 Samuel 2:1–10 See also Psalm 30:1–12, Psalm 66:16–20, Psalm 138:1–5; John 11:40

Thankfulness for others

Philemon 1:4 See also Nehemiah 11:17; Romans 1:8; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 1:10, Colossians 4:2; 1 Timothy 2:1; 2 Timothy 1:3

I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,

Thankfulness for Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 9:15 See also Luke 2:25–32, Luke 2:36–38; Colossians 2:6, Colossians 3:15–17

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Thankfulness for God's provision

Matthew 14:19 parallels Mark 6:41, Luke 9:16, John 6:11 See also Psalm 147:7–9; Matthew 15:36 parallel Mark 8:6; Matthew 26:26–27 parallels Mark 14:22–23, Luke 22:17–19; Luke 24:30; Acts 27:35; Romans 14:6; 1 Timothy 4:3

And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

Means of expressing thankfulness to God

In song

Ephesians 5:19–20 See also Psalm 69:30, Psalm 95:2, Psalm 96:1; Isaiah 55:12

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In music

Psalm 27:6, Psalm 92:1–3

In dance

Psalm 149:3

In worship

Psalm 95:2, Psalm 100:4; Hebrews 12:28