3 Ways to Be Thankful to God

Any time of the year is a good time to be thankful to God. Thanksgiving may remind us to count our blessings, but gratitude isn’t meant for only one day or season. Thankfulness can become part of our everyday lives.

We tend to rush through our days without slowing our pace long enough to thank God for all He has done.

There is always another responsibility to handle, another person who needs us, and another problem to solve. Before we realize it, the day is over, and we have barely stopped to notice God’s goodness.

Yet when we pause and begin thanking Him, something changes within our hearts.

Our circumstances may not change, but our attention shifts from our worries to God’s faithfulness. As we remember His care, we often feel some of our stress begin to melt away.

How often do we ask God for something without stopping to thank Him?

We pray and ask God to heal someone we love, and that is good. God invites us to bring our needs and concerns to Him.

But do we also stop and praise Him for something concerning that person?

Maybe you can thank God for bringing that person into your life.

You can thank Him for the medical care available to her, the strength He is giving her, or a small sign of progress.

Even when healing hasn’t come, you can thank God that He is present and hears every prayer.

We also ask God to work in impossible situations.

You may be praying about:

• Your marriage!
• An adult child!
• Financial difficulties!
• Or a decision you don’t know how to make!

But how often do you stop and thank God for something in the middle of that situation?

Thanking God doesn’t mean denying how difficult life feels.

It doesn’t mean pretending that you aren’t hurting, worried, or disappointed.

Gratitude simply reminds you that your problem isn’t the whole story. God is still with you, still working, and still worthy of your trust.

Today, I am giving you a challenge.

I am doing this too!

Take only 15 minutes to thank God for the people and situations you have been praying about. For these few minutes, don’t ask Him to do anything. Instead, look for something about each person or situation for which you can thank Him.

This simple exercise may change the way you see your circumstances. It will help you notice blessings that worry may have hidden from your view.

Here are three simple ways to be thankful to God.

3 Ways to Be Thankful to God

1. Be Thankful

Being thankful can become a lifestyle of gratitude as you make it a daily habit. The more intentionally you look for God’s goodness, the more you will begin to notice it.

Be thankful to God, express appreciation to others, and cultivate gratitude within your own heart.

Call upon God’s name and give thanks to Him more often and more intentionally. You don’t need to wait until everything is going perfectly.

You can thank Him in the middle of the ordinary, messy, and difficult moments of life.

Thank God for who He is. He is loving, merciful, patient, and faithful. He doesn’t change when your circumstances change.

When life feels uncertain, you can thank Him that His character and promises remain the same.

Thank Him for what He has already done.

Think about the prayers He has answered, the doors He has opened or closed, and the times He carried you when you felt too weak to continue.

You may not have noticed His hand at the time, but looking back often helps you see how faithfully He guided you.

He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. (2 Kings 18:5-6)

It can also help to keep a gratitude journal.

Each day, write down three things for which you are thankful. They don’t need to be significant accomplishments or dramatic answers to prayer.

You might write down a conversation with a friend, a peaceful moment in your morning, or the laughter of a child.

You might thank God for clean water, a comfortable bed, or the beauty outside your window.

On difficult days, your list may be very simple. That is perfectly fine.

Gratitude isn’t a competition, and it doesn’t need to look impressive. It is simply the practice of noticing God’s gifts and thanking Him for them.

As you continue this habit, you will have a written record of God’s faithfulness.

When discouragement comes, you can look back through those pages and remember that God has cared for you before.

He will continue to be faithful today.

I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You. Psalm 138:1

2. Be Joyful

Sing your praise and thanksgiving to God. I know I just said that, but it is worth saying again!

You don’t need a beautiful voice or musical talent to sing to the Lord. He isn’t listening for a perfect performance. He desires a heart that sincerely worships Him.

Play a favorite worship song while you make breakfast, fold laundry, or drive in the car.

Sing along and allow the words to turn your attention toward Jesus. You may be surprised by how quickly praise changes the atmosphere of your heart and home.

Rejoice in all the wonderful things God has done for you.

You may be thinking, But what if I can’t see anything to praise or thank Him for right now?

Are you saved? Begin by thanking Him for your salvation!

Thank Jesus for loving you, dying for you, forgiving your sins, and giving you the promise of eternal life.

No matter what circumstances you are facing, your salvation is always a reason to rejoice.

Then begin looking for the little things: food on your table, a warm cup of coffee, a sunny morning, or a rainy day nourishing the earth.

Thank God for the people you love, the strength to get through another day, and the quiet ways He provides for your needs.

The small things are not insignificant. Each one is a reminder of God’s goodness and care.

Joy doesn’t mean that you will never experience sorrow.

You can feel grief and still know that God is good.

You can walk through disappointment and still trust that He is near.

Biblical joy is deeper than temporary happiness because it is rooted in Jesus rather than in circumstances.

Some seasons make joyful gratitude easier than others.

When life feels heavy, you may need to begin with one small blessing. Thank God for that one thing. Then look for another.

As you begin noticing His blessings, you will discover more reasons to rejoice and give thanks.

Your difficulties may still be present, but they will no longer be the only things occupying your thoughts.

3. Be Ready to Share

Tell others, both saved and unsaved, all about the wonderful things God is doing in your life.

When God answers a prayer, share it.

When He encourages you through a verse, tell someone about it.

When He gives you strength for a difficult day, let your family or a friend know how He helped you.

Your testimony doesn’t need to be dramatic. You don’t need a platform, a microphone, or perfectly prepared words.

Simply share what God has done for you.

Make His deeds known.

Share what the Bible tells us about God’s faithfulness, beginning with creation and continuing throughout Scripture.

Tell your children and grandchildren the stories of God’s power, provision, mercy, and grace.

Be a testimony not only through your words but also through the way you live.

Before you even open your mouth, let others see the love, grace, and joy of Jesus in you.

This doesn’t mean you must appear cheerful every moment or pretend that life is perfect.

People need to see an honest faith, one that acknowledges difficulties while continuing to trust God.

They may notice when you respond to a frustrating situation with grace.

They may see you turn to prayer instead of panic.

They may wonder why you still have hope in a difficult season.

These moments can open the door for you to share the reason for your hope.

First Chronicles 16 gives us a beautiful picture of grateful worship:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!

—1 Chronicles 16:8–11

These verses bring all three practices together.

We are told to give thanks, sing with joy, and tell others about God’s wonderful works.

We are also reminded to seek the Lord and depend on His strength.

Five Psalms to Encourage a Thankful Heart

One meaningful way to become more thankful is to pray or sing the Psalms.

When you don’t know what to say, allow the words of Scripture to guide your praise.

Here are five Psalms to read when you want to cultivate a thankful heart:

Psalm 9 reminds you to praise God wholeheartedly and tell others about His marvelous works. Read it when you need to remember the ways He has been faithful.

Psalm 34 encourages you to bless the Lord at all times. It doesn’t say only during the easy seasons. This psalm reminds you that God hears, delivers, and stays close to those who are brokenhearted.

Psalm 92 begins with the reminder that it is good to give thanks to the Lord. Use this psalm to praise God for His lovingkindness, faithfulness, and wonderful works.

Psalm 100 invites you to serve the Lord with gladness and enter His presence with thanksgiving. It reminds you that the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth continues through every generation.

Psalm 103 encourages you to remember God’s benefits. He forgives, heals, redeems, crowns you with lovingkindness, and satisfies you with good things. This psalm is especially helpful when discouragement causes you to forget His blessings.

Choose one of these Psalms and read it slowly. Write down a verse that especially encourages you. Turn that verse into a prayer of thanksgiving, or copy it into your journal and decorate the page with simple colors or flowers.

Remember, it is about the heart, not the art.

You don’t need a beautiful journal page to offer meaningful worship. God treasures your sincere gratitude.

The Gratitude Journaling Workbook (below) is how I’ve learned to consistently include gratitude in my life.

Take the 15-Minute Gratitude Challenge

Set a timer for 15 minutes and make a list of the people and situations you have been praying about.

Beside each one, write at least one reason to thank God.

If the situation is especially difficult, thank Him for being with you, hearing your prayers, and promising to give you wisdom and strength.

Then spend the remainder of those 15 minutes praising Him.

You can pray, write in your journal, read a psalm aloud, or sing a worship song.

Being thankful won’t make every problem disappear.

However, it will remind you that you aren’t facing those problems alone. God is present, and His faithfulness is greater than anything you are facing.

Be thankful. Be joyful. Be ready to share.

Slow down today and notice the goodness of God surrounding you.

Thank Him for the large blessings and the small ones.

Sing about His faithfulness, and tell someone what He has done.

What other ways of expressing gratitude can you add to the ones I’ve shared?

There are many ways to be thankful to God, and one way is to pray the Psalms or sing them. Here are 5 Psalms that will encourage you to have a thankful heart.

What ways to be thankful can you add to what I shared?