How to Practice Biblical Gratitude 

I blinked back tears at the tragic news–a faithful believer lost his wife and daughter in a horrific car accident. As the congregation prayed for the grieving widower and father, he responded, “Thank you, Holy Spirit.”

Does that sort of faith stun you, too? A faith rooted in God that, despite overwhelming grief and physical pain, found expression in biblical gratitude. In this article, we’ll explore how we can practice gratitude, as well.

What is Biblical Gratitude?

The Hebrew and Greek words used to communicate the concept of thankfulness in the Bible enrich our understanding of this key faith component. Consider the following:

  • Todah, one Hebrew word translated thanksgiving, conveys the idea of praise as sacrifice. Included in many Psalms, it is also linked to surrender.
  • Zamar, another word associated with biblical thanksgiving, means to “celebrate in song and music.”
  • The third word, yadah, means “to give thanks, to praise, to confess”—especially with one’s hands extended in worship.

The themes of gratitude and thanksgiving introduced in the original Hebrew text extend into the New Testament with words like eucharistia and doxa. Derived from two root words, meaning “good” and “forgiven”, eucharistia carries the idea of thanking the Lord for His goodness toward us—not the least of which are His favor and forgiveness.

A second Greek word used 167 times in the New Testament, doxa conveys one’s view or judgment of God as worthy of praise, honor, and glory.

The Challenge of Practicing Gratitude

At times, gratitude flows unhindered. Life and thanks intertwine in a dance marked by laughter. Togetherness. Beauty. In other seasons? Struggle and heartache accompany mothering, and we struggle to offer a prayer. A word of praise.

But biblical gratitude is not about how we feel. Instead, it is a way of life for the believer. A discipline in which we grow. A faith practice that strengthens us when circumstances attempt to rattle our faith.

As we learned from the terms mentioned in the previous section, thanksgiving requires sacrifice. Psalm 51:17 (AMPC) reminds us,

“My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.”

Concepts of Biblical Gratitude

The Bible helps us understand the broader concepts of Biblical gratitude which I’ve distill into three categories.

1. Recognition

Colossians 3:15 encourages the believer to “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” In this instance, “thankful” is derived from eucharistos.

As women who love the Lord, we recognize Jesus’ gift of forgiveness in our lives. Because of His unmerited favor and bountiful love, we live with the hope of an eternity with Jesus.

2. Choice

Employing the same root words as the previous verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 exhorts the Christian to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Don’t misconstrue this verse to mean “give thanks for all circumstances.”

Instead, we choose to express thanks that exists outside of temporal circumstance, outlook, or experience. We know “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28 NIV) Our ‘good’ is an incomparable, heavenly inheritance.

3. Worship

The author of Hebrews 12:28 (NIV) wrote,

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

A heart focused on the Lord exalts Him with the knowledge that even if the worst happens, we remain in His watchful care. 

People in the Bible and Practicing Thankfulness

Many stories of men and women in the Bible provide wonderful examples of how we might practice gratitude. Like us, they experienced the ups and downs of life and offer insight as we seek to glorify the Father.

1. The Healed Leper

Luke 17 (NIV) relates the story of ten lepers who cried out for healing as Jesus entered their village. Christ commanded them to present themselves to the priests and, as they walked, the men received healing.

Only one leper—free of the cursed disease—returned to thank Jesus. Verse 15 shares, “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.”

Like the healed Samaritan, we practice gratitude when we testify of His goodness to others and spend time at the feet of Jesus.

2. Hannah

A woman who longed to hold a baby in her aching arms, Hannah knew the pain of infertility. During a pilgrimage to the temple, she prayed God would answer the cry of her heart—promising to give the child back to Him.

When Samuel—Hannah’s son–reached an appropriate age, she returned to the priest and presented her child. From that point on, Hannah’s firstborn served God. Samuel 2 records Hannah’s prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

Hannah teaches us to praise God even as we surrender that which we most love.

3. David

Known as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), King David penned Psalms of thanksgiving, confession, and lament. Some were forged in the aftermath of loss while others relayed favorable circumstances. No matter the situation, though, David praised God. We, too, can emulate David’s example and express gratitude through the
words of scripture or our own.

Five Practical Ways to Express Gratitude to the Lord

  • Share your testimony about God’s goodness in your life with those He brings into your circle of influence.
  • Read Hannah’s prayer of praise for inspiration. Now, write one of your own.
  • Meditate on such Psalms as Psalm 34, 38, 100, 145, 146, 148, or 150.
  • Keep a prayer journal throughout the year. At the end of the year, highlight each answered request. Then, write a prayer of thanksgiving.
  • Make a daily appointment to spend 5-15 minutes alone with Jesus.

Practicing Christian gratitude in the day-to-day may not be easy. Life brims with busy. Dishes and dust demand our attention. Soccer practice and ballet performances squeeze the schedule. But when challenges arise, we’ll remain anchored in praise because He remains constant.

In those moments we’ll agree with the man who said, “Thank you, Holy Spirit.”

Tammy Kennington is an author, podcaster, and dually certified life and mental health coach with a heart for helping women find healing through Christ. With firsthand insight into the challenges of trauma, mental health struggles, and parenting through hard seasons, Tammy gently guides others toward hope and restoration through inner healing prayer.

Whether encouraging the weary or nurturing faith in the young and young at heart, Tammy’s passion is pointing people back to the unshakable love of Jesus.

Connect with her on Substack, or tune in to her podcast, From Hardship to Hope, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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