It’s easy to thank God when you have a full bank account. It’s easy to thank God when your marriage is a fairytale that’s come to life. Thanking God comes naturally when your kids are healthy and you’ve booked your flights for your next vacation.  

You might also thank God when you’ve experienced a miracle and saw how He intervened in your life. Maybe you thanked Him when you received an unexpected gift card in the mail and the monthly budget was tight.

But what about those in between moments? What about the times when you feel distant from God and you think He hasn’t heard your prayers?

And truth be told, there are times where God gives us good things and we thank everyone but Him.

We need to thank God in all circumstances - the good, the difficult, and the in between times.

Psalm 100:1-5 is all about giving thanks to God.

The first verse says, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!”

Praise God out loud! Ask Him to bring joy to your heart as you worship Him.

In verse two, we read, “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”

What should we do? We need to be selfless. We should have a servant mindset. We need to approach the Lord with praise. The glory belongs to Him!

Verse three says, “Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Remember that our Father is the one true God. He created you. He created me. We belong to Him. We are His! He is our Shepherd and we are His sheep.

In verse four, it says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

What are we to do? Come before him with gratitude! We are to thank our Father. We are to bless Him!

The final verse says, “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Our God is good. He is perfect. His unending love will last a lifetime. He will not abandon us. He will be faithful through the generations. Think about how He has worked in the lives of the people who came before you. He will continue to work in the lives of the people who you are mentoring, raising, and influencing.

Here is a list of verses on Gratitude. Spend a few mornings going through these verses. If there’s a verse that encourages you, write it out on a note card and tape it where you can see it.

VERSES ON GRATITUDE

1 Chronicles 16:34

James 1:17

Jeremiah 30:19

2 Corinthians 4:15

Psalm 9:1

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Isaiah 12:4-5

Romans 12:1

Colossians 3:16-17

Revelation 11:17

Psalm 107:8-9

Philemon 1:4

Whenever life seems bleak, we must remember that a life of gratitude is the best life. It is something that is not only instructed by God but it changes us. It changes our attitude and perspective. Not only do we notice the big things, we notice the small details as well. As we enter into this Thanksgiving season, look for ways you can be grateful each and every day.

Check out our gratitude calendar.Every day, you have the opportunity to be thankful for a specific area or person in your life. Or you have the chance to do a generous act for someone. This will help you enter this season with a grateful heart!

If you are looking for some practical ways to develop a routine in your day, make sure to check out this blog on changing your mindset when it comes to self-care. I have found so much gratitude in those moments of caring for myself each day.