- Thank God every day! Thank Him for big things, like having a baby, and for everyday, ordinary things, like the beauty of nature.
- Honor God by living according to His will, by reading the Bible, and by singing praises.
- Spread the Word of the Lord to others, and invite them to praise the Lord with you!
Thanking God Directly
Thank God continuously throughout your day. The Bible tells us that we should keep an open line of communication with God at all times, thanking Him for all He does. Not only will this help strengthen your relationship with God, but if you're constantly looking for things to be grateful for, you'll be more likely to find them. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Bible says: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." A prayer of daily gratitude might sound like this: “Dear God, thank You for this day and for my health and for surrounding me with love and beauty. I am grateful to be alive today and I rejoice that You are watching over me. Amen.”
Offer a special prayer of thanks after major blessings. In addition to maintaining a general spirit of gratitude, try to remember to stop and praise God for the big, life-changing events that come along. Be humble about even the biggest blessings, because as the Bible reminds us in James 1:17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father." Major blessings might include things like meeting the love of your life, getting a major promotion, finding out that you're expecting a child, or receiving an unexpected, meaningful gift. A prayer of thanks after a blessing might be something like: "Heavenly Father, I am so humbled that You have blessed me with the gift of a child. I thank You with my whole heart. Please protect my unborn baby and give me wisdom to be a good parent. Amen." If you get caught up in the moment and you forget to thank God right when something good happens, it's okay if you pray later when you do think about it. As you keep practicing gratitude, you'll likely find that over time it will become easier to remember God in the moment.
Say a quick prayer after small blessings, as well. While it's important to remember to thank God for major blessings, you should also pray any time something small makes you think of Him. For instance, you might say a short prayer of thanks because you caught a glimpse of a gorgeous sunset, or after you got a really nice compliment from a stranger when you were having a bad day. Psalms 7:17 says: "I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds." For instance, if you see one person doing a kind act for another, you might say a short prayer like, "Father, thank You for allowing me to see people showing each other the same love You have for us."
Give thanks for God's love even when you can't find another blessing. Even when you're having trouble counting the blessings in your life, you can always be grateful for God's love. In fact, in 1 John 4:16, the Bible says that God IS love. No matter what else is going on, that's always something you can appreciate. In Psalms 118:29, the Bible says: "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever." If you’re feeling discouraged, you might pray something like, "Dear God, I'm having a hard time today, but I know that You are watching over me. Thank You for Your unconditional, unfailing love, and please help to uplift my spirit. Amen." Even if things are going well, you can still pray to God to thank Him for loving you.
Showing Gratitude through Action
Perform acts of service as a way to show your thanks to God. One of the best ways to show God that you appreciate the blessings He's given you is to use those blessings to help others. That might mean helping people who are less fortunate than you, but it also might mean figuring out your talents, then using them to help others. For instance, if you have been blessed with wealth, you might start a nonprofit organization that serves lunch to kids during the summer when they don't have access to school meals. If you've been blessed with the ability to be a good listener and a comfort to people who are hurting, you might decide to have a career as a counselor.
Share your beliefs with others. If you are truly thankful for all of the blessings that God has given you, you'll likely feel called to share God's love with other people. You might simply attribute your blessings to God when others comment on them, but if they seem interested in learning more, you could even witness to them to try to convert them to your faith. For instance, if someone says, "Your home is beautiful," you might say, "Thank you! God has really blessed my life and I'm very grateful to Him." If they ask you more about your faith in God, you might invite them to come to church with you so they can learn about God's generosity as well.
Sing praises to God. If you love to sing or you're talented at playing an instrument, you can use your gifts to show you're grateful for your blessings. For instance, you might worship as you sing along with a song that honors God. Try writing a simple song with lyrics that express what you're most thankful for, then open your heart in prayer as you play your instrument. The Bible is full of examples of God's followers using music to worship him, including David. Psalms 95:1-3 says: "O Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods." You don't have to be the world's best musician to honor God with your song! As long as your praise comes from your heart, that will be good enough.
Honor God by living according to His will. The ultimate way to show gratitude to God is to devote your life to Him. That can be hard sometimes, because it means turning away from sinful behavior and your own vision for what you want your life to look like. However, if God has already blessed your life before you commit to Him completely, imagine the blessings that will be waiting for you as you deepen your relationship with Him. To live for God, pray and read the Bible each day, turn away from your sins, and listen for His guidance in all of the decisions that you make.
Try not to feel proud or entitled about your blessings. It's human nature to feel like our accomplishments belong to us. However, if you want to live your life giving constant thanks to God, you have to let go of the idea that you should get the credit. Instead, remember that God gives us everything we have. Luke 14:11 says: "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." In Proverbs 22:4, the Bible says: "Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life."
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