How to Cultivate Thankfulness with a Grateful Heart
What’s Inside: Learn how to Give thanks with a grateful heart and the benefits of having a thankful attitude and giving thanks to God.
If you’ve been a Christian for a good length of time, you’re probably familiar with the song, Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.”
And for good reason.
It’s one of the most well known songs in modern day Christianity. And statistic show that the term “give thanks with a grateful heart” garners about 8100 searches per month on Google alone.
Unbelievable, right?
And the term “Give thanks with a grateful heart lyrics” gets about 12100 searches per month!
People are searching for the most popular song, sang by praise and worship leader, Don Moen.
Did you know that giving thanks with a grateful heart is actually based upon Scripture and that God calls us to cultivate a heart that is overflowing with gratitude?
Today, we are going to delve deeper into giving thanks, how to give thanks with a grateful heart, and it’s my heart’s desire to help you cultivate gratitude with a heart that is bursting with gratitude.
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What Does it Mean to Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart
Giving thanks with a grateful heart means expressing gratitude and appreciation to God for what we have in life from a heart that is overflowing with gratitude!
It is about recognizing the blessings and positive things in our lives and feeling thankful for them.
Having an attitude of gratitude towards God can help us focus on what we have rather than what we lack, we can experience greater happiness and fulfillment in life.
Whether it’s through prayer, meditation, or simply taking a moment to reflect on the good things in our lives, giving thanks with a grateful heart is a powerful practice that can bring greater joy and contentment to our lives.
Having an attitude of gratitude towards God helps us focus on what we have rather than what we lack.
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude towards God helps us focus on what we have rather than what we lack
What Does the Bible say About a Grateful Heart?
Having a thankful heart in the Bible is mentioned many times. Check out my 5 favorite give thanks with a grateful heart verse KJV. They extoll God’s people to be filled with thanksgiving, magnify God with thanksgiving and come into His presence with Thanksgiving.
It’s ALL ABOUT Thanksgiving!
- Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. -Psalm 100:4
- Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; -Colossians 4:2
- I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. -Psalm 69:30
- Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. -Psalm 95:2
- Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: – Psalm 50:14
What Psalm Does Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart Come From??
Many are surprised that the give thanks with a grateful heart verse doesn’t exist in the Bible verbatim. I was too. But you can find the truth of the song scattered throughout various Scriptures in the Bible.
Here’s a chart that I made for you with all of the lyrics to give thanks references in Scripture:
| Song Portion | Verse Reference | Verse |
| Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart | Psalm 107:1 | O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. |
| Give Thanks to the Holy One | Habakkuk 3:1 | God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise |
| Give Thanks, Because He’s given Jesus Christ His Son | John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life |
| And now, Let the weak say I am strong | Joel 3:10 | Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. |
| Let the poor say I am weak | 2 Cor. 8:9 | For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. |
| Because of what the Lord has done for us | Psalm 40:5 | Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. |
| Give Thanks | Psalm 118:1 | O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. |
There are other verses that could be quoted from the song, but I have chosen ones that seemed a good fit biblically.
Why is Giving Thanks with a Grateful Heart So Important
Why is giving thanks with a grateful heart so important for us as Christians?
The first reason why being thankful and having a grateful heart is so important is because the Bible repeatedly commands us to give thanks to God.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
It’s so easy to get lost in ourselves, our issues and problems, but appreciation to God helps us focus on God’s goodness.
A third reason why giving thanks is so important is because gratitude helps us be humble and depend on God.
Gratitude fosters contentment: When we take our eyes off of ourselves, we are less likely to be envious or dissatisfied with our lives, leading to a contentment and peace.
How Giving Thanks Can Change Your Spiritual Life
One of the main transformations that takes place as a result of giving thanks is growth in relationship with the Lord.
The children of Israel were God’s chosen people and God did a wonderful work by setting them free from the bondge of slavery. But they had a fatal flaw in their character, and that was that they loved to focus on the negative and grumble, mumble, gripe and complain.
Instead of giving thanks to the Lord, they focused on the lack instead of cultivating thankfulness to the One who had delivered them.
- They complained that they would rather be back in Egypt IN BONDAGE AS SLAVES rather than being free and journeying back to the promised land. Scandalous! (Ex 16:2-15)
- They complained when God met their need of food and supplied them with daily heavenly manna. (Num. 20:2–5; 21:5)
- They complained about the leadership of Moses. (Num. 14:2–5; 16:1–3)
God’s desire was to bring the children of Israel into the land of promise. Instead of trusting God, they were grumbling and complaining.
Had the Israelites focused on the Lord with a heart full of gratefulness, they would have entered the promised land sooner than later.
By looking at the examples of the Hebrew Israelites we can see that grumbling and complaining held back the blessings of God but obedience to give thanks ushers in those same blessings.
Giving thanks can change your spiritual lie profoundly!
How to Cultivate Thankfulness with a Grateful Heart (6 Gratitude Steps)
Sweet Sis- I’m gonna get real for a quick second-when was The last time you really stopped to think about all the good In your life and thanked God? When was the last time where you thanked God for the trials and difficult times that you are going through, lifted your hands in worship, and thanked God?
Gratitude isn’t something that comes natural- and sometimes (or a lot of the time) we need a helping hand to get those gratitude juices flowing. Gratitude as a Way of Life
Choosing to See the Good
Have no fear, my sweet Sister in the Lord. You can respond to God’s call and live gratitude as a way of life by implementing these strategies.
Ask the Holy Spirit
Have you ever considered asking the Lord to help you have a tender heart of gratitude? It’s definitely an honorable prayer.
Do it today.
Humbly submit yourself to God and ask Him to fill your heart with overflowing gratitude.
Meditate (Biblically) On Gratitude
Spend A Few Minutes Each Day Focusing On What You’re Thankful For. When you first start your morning, take a moment, close Your eyes, and think about all the things in Your life that you could be/should be/can be grateful for.
God has so mercifully allowed you to open your eyes and to take on another day. Thank and praise Him!
Has the Lord given you a comfortable bed to sleep on and a roof over your head? Thank Him!
God has given you another day of life to spend working, playing and enjoying life with your friends and loved ones. Praise the Lord!
Have you thought of your salvation and the eternal life that God has so mercifully given to you? It’s only by His grace, Sis!
Every morning, as you wake up, SLOW DOWN for a few brief minutes, pick three things, and verbally thank the Lord for them. It will help you start your day with your heart focused on gratitude!
Keep A Gratitude Journal
Gratitude journaling is putting all of those things we thought about in our first
Each Day, Write Down Three Things You’re Thankful For. This Can Be Something As Simple As “I’m Grateful For My Bed,” “I’m Grateful For My Health,” Or “I’m Grateful For My Family.”
Express Gratitude
When someone does something nice for you, take the time to express tour gratitude. Whether it’s a handwritten note, A verbal “Thank You,” or even a simple smile, showing your appreciation will make the other person feel good and might even encourage them to go something nice for someone else.
Pay It Forward
One of the best ways to cultivate A grateful heart Is to do something nice for someone else. Whether it’s buying for The person behind you In the drive through, taking someone out for coffee or, volunteering your time at A local homeless shelter, small acts Of kindness can make a big impact.
Blessing others fosters a heart full of gratitude.
Be Mindful Of The Present
Another way to be appreciative of what you have Is to practice being present in the very moment you are in.
At the coffee shop… be grateful you have the money for small luxuries.
At the grocery store… be thankful for the food God has provided you with.
When the kids are acting crazy and you want to pull your hair out… find something in that moment to be grateful for.
Be present in the moment.
Truly Savor It.
The beautiful sunset. The rain falling. Spending time with the family.
Take a moment, slow down, be present and be mindful of this present moment. These moments are fleeting and will soon be gone.
Take a moment, slow down, be present and be mindful of this present moment.
When you focus on the good, you will find that the bad doesn’t seem so bad after all. Make it your heart’s desire to say “Thank you Lord with a grateful heart.” daily.
How Can I Be Grateful When my Situation is Really Bad?
“Lil”, you might ask, “How can I be grateful when my situation is really bad?”
I’m walking this valley right along with you, Sis.
I was diagnosed with stage 4 multiple myeloma (cancer).
I can only walk with assistance or a walker.
I am mostly bedridden and rarely leave my home.
All of the above is a far cry from my previously active life. While I believe God for my healing, I am giving thanks and rejoicing in what I do have.
- I have a husband who cooks, cleans and takes care of me and goes above and beyond in seeing my needs are met.
- There is a depth to our marriage that I would have never experienced had I not been diagnosed.
- Beautiful family and friends have come to my aid in helping me when I haven’t been able to help myself.
Cultivating gratitude to God helps us focus on what we have rather than what we lack- even when it’s hard.
Frequently Asked Questions About Giving Thanks with a Grateful Heart
- What does the Bible teach about giving thanks? The Bible commands all of His children, Jews and Christians alike, to praise Him with thanksgiving.
- What does it mean to have a grateful heart? Having a thankful heart means that your heart and mind is focused on giving thanks to the Lord.
- How can I overcome feelings of entitlement and cultivate a grateful heart? Thanksgiving is learned as we apply and practice it daily.
- How can I practice gratitude in my daily life? One way way to be appreciative of what you have Is to practice being present in the very moment you are in.
- What are some easy ways to express gratitude? You can express gratitude in many ways but it’s all a result of a heart and mind change.
- How can I cultivate gratitude in 6 easy steps? Asking the Holy Spirit to help you cultivate a heart of gratitude, Biblically meditate on Scripture, keep a gratitude journal, express gratitude, pay it forward and be mindful of the present.
- Are there any potential downsides to practicing gratitude? Nope. not one. 🙂
- How can I give thanks to God when my situation is really bad? Focus on what you do have rather than on what you lack.
Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart Lyrics and Chords
Lastly, I want to leave you with the well beloved Give thanks with a grateful heart lyrics and chords. How I would love to do a video of myself singing and playing for you but chemo has also ruined my singing and speaking voice.
These simple give thanks with a grateful heart lyrics will just have to suffice for now:
(1)Give thanks with a (V)grateful heart
Give (iv) thanks to the (iii) Holy One
Give (IV) thanks because He’s (I) given (vi) Jesus (VII)Christ, His (V)Son *repeat
And (iii) now let the (vi) weak say, “I am (ii)strong”
Let the (V) poor say, “I am (I)rich
Because of (vi) what the Lord has (VII) done for (V) us”
ending- Give (I)Thanks
My rudimentary give thanks arrangement above is a simple one. If you’d like a more complex arrangement, you can find the free “Give thanks with a grateful heart sheet music on Hymnary.org.
Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart Conclusion
Will you take the challenge to foster thankfulness in your life?
When we cultivate a spirit of gratitude, we become more aware of God’s goodness in our lives, and develop a deeper appreciation for all that He has done.
May our hearts overflow with gratitude and praise as we give thanks with a grateful heart!
