Imagine for a moment that you were desperate for a miracle. Your whole life hinged on this one thing happening, and unless God intervened, you would die in isolation and misery. So you begged God loudly for his mercy–and then, one day, he answered. He healed you. Instantly. Completely. If that were your story, how would you respond? Would you shrug and move on with life, or fall at his feet and give thanks?
This isn’t a hypothetical scenario; it happened in Luke 17:11-19. On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus entered a village and was met by not one, but ten lepers, the outcasts and eye sores of society. They recognized Jesus as Master and begged him for mercy. He sent them to show themselves to the priests for cleansing, and on their way, he healed them. Imagine their surprise when their twisted limbs straightened, and diseased skin was made whole before their eyes!
But only one out of the ten men returned to give thanks—a Samaritan. He alone fell at Jesus’ feet in praise and thanksgiving.
Giving thanks is the natural (and sometimes supernatural) response we offer God, who is the giver of all good things (Jas. 1:17). It is our joyful declaration of trust, even when we don’t understand his ways (1 Thess. 5:18). Gratitude is part of our spiritual act of worship (Rom. 12:1), and the lifeblood of our Christian lives.
We’re to give thanks in all things, but sometimes we need reminders. Here are 20 verses that call us back to the posture of thanksgiving.
20 Bible Verses About Giving Thanks
1. 1 Chronicles 16:8 (ESV)
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
2. 1 Chronicles 29:12–14 (ESV)
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
3. Psalm 7:17 (ESV)
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
4. Psalm 28:7 (ESV)
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
5. Psalm 69:30 (ESV)
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
6. Psalm 92:1 (ESV)
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High.
7. Psalm 95:2 (ESV)
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
8. Psalm 100:1–5 (ESV)
A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 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. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
9. Psalm 106:1 (ESV)
Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
10. Psalm 107:1 (ESV)
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
11. Psalm 136:1 (ESV)
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
12. Romans 1:8 (ESV)
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
13. 1 Corinthians 15:57 (ESV)
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
14. Ephesians 5:20 (ESV)
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15. Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV)
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
16. Colossians 3:15 (ESV)
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
17. Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18. Colossians 4:2 (ESV)
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
19. Philippians 4:6 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
20. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Gratitude is the Attitude
By returning to give thanks, the Samaritan leper showed us that faith doesn’t end in receiving God’s gifts, but in glorifying the Giver. Jesus said to him, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:17,19). The leper’s temporary physical healing led to his spiritual healing—making him doubly whole.
The ingratitude of the nine is shocking, but how often do we imitate them? How rarely do we pause to fall before our Savior to give thanks? If you are in Christ, you have reason for unceasing gratitude! You’ve been delivered from the spiritual disease of sin that would’ve plunged you into a Christ-less eternity.
Gratitude isn’t just the proper response; it’s the worshipful posture of the redeemed. Let us come to Jesus as the Samaritan did: falling before him with overflowing thankfulness.
Gratefully yours,
Cara
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