Woman to Woman: How to Cultivate a Thankful Heart

A thankful life means more than just telling God “thank you” for your blessings. It involves many other aspects of the Christian life. These verses will help you learn how God hears your thankfulness best, and they will help you cultivate a thankful heart.

Thank God by counting blessings

May you be filled with joy,always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son,who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:11–14

No matter your situation, you can always count your heavenly blessings. Jesus rescued you from the power of death by paying the price for your sins. He has given you an eternal inheritance. That’s always a reason for thankfulness! Counting your blessings, whether big and small, cultivates a thankful heart.

Thank God by keeping promises

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Psalm 50:141

God wants us to keep the promises we make to him and to others. In doing so, we offer thankfulness as a sacrificial gift.

Thank God by trusting him

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7

When we trust God, we show our reliance upon him rather than upon our own strength. His help inspires joy and thanksgiving in our hearts.

Thank God through obedience

Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. Colossians 3:17

God knows we love him when we obey him. In every activity of our life, obedience and thanksgiving should be benchmarks.

Thank God through music

And each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing songs of thanks and praise to Him. 1 Chronicles 23:30

Whether you can carry a tune or not, God loves to hear you sing to him. Sing in the shower, in the car, in your home while doing chores. Your praises will create a thankful song to God.

Thank God through prayer

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. Philippians 4:6

It’s easy to fall into a habit of simply making requests of God in our times of prayer. But God wants more from us than our requests. He wants our praise and thanksgiving too. By thanking God for specific blessings in prayer, we gain a healthy perspective on life and quell anxiety.

Thank God with a positive attitude

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:20

Every circumstance, whether good or bad, presents an opportunity for thanksgiving. Even in the worst of times, we can be thankful for God’s constant presence and his provision. Staying positive is a way of saying “thank you” to God every day.

Thank God with reverence

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. Hebrews 12:28

We need to hold God in high honor, with respect and awe for his power and might. By taking a humble stance with God, we can thank him through our reverent worship.

Let these verses plant seeds of thankfulness in your heart and reap a thankful harvest for God every day through prayer, meditation, and worship.

Here's a prayer to encourage you today:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all your blessings to me!

They are greater than I can count.

I don't want to only go through the motions of thanking you.

I want to be fully engaged in a life of thankfulness.

Cultivate gratitude in my heart, Jesus.

May my thankfulness be a small gift

in return for all the goodness you show me.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Want more tips on Christian meditation? Check out my book, Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus.