Listen for just a few minutes in a crowded place to the conversations around you. What do you hear? Thankfulness and gratitude would probably not top the list. Most of the time, it is easier to complain than to be thankful for the everyday blessings and even the extraordinary gifts that God has given us.
These Thanksgiving Bible Verses remind us to give thanks back to the Lord for what He has done. The King James Version (KJV) translation of the Word of God is used for these Scriptures. Be sure to see the free Thanksgiving Bible Verses Printable at the end of the post!
Whether it’s Thanksgiving Day or any other day of the year, let these Bible verses encourage a thankful heart.
If KJV isn’t your preferred translation, you can click here and change the translation to read the thanksgiving verses in that version.
Gratitude and Thanksgiving Bible Verses
Giving thanks to the Lord is not only one of the things we owe our Lord God, but it is also good for our health. This Mayo Clinic article suggests that gratitude can decrease depression and anxiety.
These Thanksgiving Bible verses remind us that God wants us to offer our gratitude to Him, both privately and publicly.
“Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.” 1 Chronicles 16:8 KJV
This Scripture reminds us that our dear Lord wants us to tell others about the deeds that He has done. Not only can that inspire others to have faith in Him, it reminds us of what He has done for us. This can help us to have faith right now!
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6 KJV
The King James Version here uses “be careful for nothing” instead of “be anxious for nothing,” and it is an interesting variation that could caution us against being so very concerned over each detail. Diligent, yes; anxious, no.
The solution to this anxiety and careful concern is prayer with surrender and thanksgiving. Verse 7 adds that the peace of God will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Thanksgiving plays a part in putting our heart at peace in God.
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2 KJV
Here is another example of believers being told to accompany prayer with thanksgiving. Remembering what the Lord has done and thanking Him for it shows us that He has been faithful before; we can trust Him with how He will answer our prayers now and in the future.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 KJV
When we acknowledge that every good and perfect gift is from God, it’s reminding us that we are not the source of our blessing or strength or anything else. We should put our faith and trust in God, who does not change, and give all glory to God.
Psalms of Thanksgiving Bible Verses
The Psalms are full of thankfulness and gratitude. These are just a few of the thanksgiving Bible verses in the book of Psalms.
“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30 KJV
What a beautiful Scripture! We can lift up the holy name of God through worship in songs of praise. Furthermore, we can magnify God in thanksgiving. I picture this not as actually making our powerful and great God larger. Rather, I see it as counteracting our underestimation of His great power in our lives, and making Him larger than we’ve pictured.
“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” Psalm 95:2 KJV
When we approach the Lord in worship and prayer, He wants us to have an attitude of thanksgiving and joy.
“I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.” Psalm 35:18 KJV
Here is another reminder to tell of His works among the people, especially those who are in the body of Christ.
“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” Psalm 9:1 KJV
Our praise and thanksgiving should come enthusiastically from our whole heart.
“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” Psalm 26:7 KJV
We often “publish” our list of complaints, our woes, and our conflicts; but what if we instead told of God’s wonderful blessings in our lives?
“Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High.” Psalm 50:14 KJV
Thankfulness is just one of the debts we owe to God. Yes, the grace of God covers this too, but why not be thankful to the Lord for what He has done?
“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” Psalm 30:12 KJV
This verse feels like just a little glimpse of heaven, that we will be praising and thanking God forever for who He is and what He has done.
Thanksgiving Bible Verses in easy times and hard times
Each day presents its own challenges, and some days are very, very hard. Yet the Lord gives us the opportunity to be thankful each day in prayer. Even when life is hard, we can give thanks to God. These thanksgiving Bible verses encourage us to continue to be thankful.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 KJV
We are encouraged to stay faithful in our Christian walk and grow in faith in Jesus Christ, being thankful. Surely, some of those days will be difficult. Yet we are supposed to abound in thanksgiving. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do that even on challenging days.
“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.’” Luke 22:19 KJV
Facing the cross, a challenge far beyond what any of us will ever face, Jesus still gave thanks. We can follow His example in thanking God when faced with heartbreaking circumstances.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
God doesn’t give us a pass to not be thankful when life is hard. We might not be thankful for the circumstances, but we can find something to be thankful about in the circumstances. Some things we can always be thankful for are the Good News of Jesus Christ, God’s steadfast love for us, and His faithfulness. Even if that’s all you can muster on a horrible day, give thanks for that.
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 KJV
All circumstances are used for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28). Sometimes, we go through really hard times, but God uses all of it for His purposes for you. That’s just one reason we can be thankful even when faced with great difficulties.
“And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it at your own will.” Leviticus 22:29 KJV
“And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” Psalm 107:22 KJV
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15 KJV
These three thanksgiving Bible verses refer to sacrifices of thanksgiving. The first two were literal sacrifices under Old Testament law. Even though we live under New Testament law because of the work of Jesus Christ, we still should offer our sacrifices of thanksgiving to the Lord.
Being thankful during times of trouble can truly be a sacrifice. God sees your obedience in being thankful anyway.
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV
This thanksgiving Bible verse is not about the challenging times, as it is about always being thankful for God’s grace in our lives.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 KJV
Having victory through Jesus Christ is a great day! We should not neglect to give our thanks to the Lord, like most of the lepers who were healed did in Luke 17:11-19. Remember to be grateful to God for the good things as well.
Thanksgiving Bible Verses Printable
This 3-page printable has 20 Thanksgiving Bible Verses in the King James Version. Download it here.
You can find more gratitude related free downloads on this website.
The Philippians 4:4 Wall Art is on this page.
The Philippians 4:4 Bible Verse Bookmark – Color Your Own Bookmark download is on this page.
A Thankfulness Journal is available for purchase in the Hope Filled Faith Etsy Shop.
Let’s take a moment to be thankful to God right now!
Dear Lord,
Thank you that there is so much to be thankful for, even on the hardest day. We are so thankful for You, and the work done on the cross to save us.
May we glorify You in thankfulness and praise each day.
In the glorious name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
If you like Thanksgiving Bible Verses, you may also like 10 Favorite Psalms.