6 Biblical Resources About Thankfulness

As children of God, we have much to be thankful for, regardless of our earthly circumstances. Over and over, the Bible urges us to be thankful for all that God does for us and gives to us. In Colossians 3:1-17, the Apostle Paul outlines what it means to live as one made alive in Christ: putting to death our old selves and ways, putting on our new selves, and being clothed in the fruits of the Spirit, as well as forgiving one another as we have been forgiven. But in the last three verses, Paul describes the ideal state of being for someone who lives in Christ, underpinning each thought with thankfulness: 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:15-17, emphasis added). 

This basic attitude of thanksgiving comforts us in our relationship with God. He provides us with everything we need spiritually and physically. He does all the hard work. Our job is simply to receive. The following four audio Bible studies and two blog articles delve into God’s Word to encourage us to cultivate thankful hearts and to express our gratitude to God as we navigate our day-to-day lives.

Audio Bible studies about thankfulness

Thankfulness and Gratitude. Why are thanksgiving and gratitude important virtues for Jesus' followers to cultivate? This episode of Groundwork explores the Scriptures to answer this question.

The Importance of Gratitude. What is the importance of gratitude in relation to our faith? In this episode, we discuss that question by digging into the story of ten men with leprosy from Luke 17:11-19.

Envy. The deadly sin of envy plunges beneath mere jealousy or covetousness; as Thomas Aquinas put it, envy is to feel “sorrow at another’s good.” Thankfulness is the only sure antidote for the poison of envy. 

Praise in Dark Times. Is praise always happy? Does it imply joy? What about when you're suffering or knocked down by life—can you praise then? In this episode, we delve into the book of Habakkuk to discover whether praise is possible or even fitting in the varied circumstances of life.

Blog posts about living in gratitude

The Importance of Giving Thanks. As Christians, thanksgiving is a daily spiritual practice that deepens our faith life and enriches our relationship with God. Thankfulness gives us strength in seasons of sorrow and pain.

Deadly Sins of Ingratitude: Greed, Gluttony, and Lust. Within God’s loving boundaries, wealth, possessions, food, and sex are all good things. However, greed, gluttony, and lust make idols of these things. What God meant to bless, benefit, and delight us instead curses, costs, and dissatisfies us.

Groundwork is a weekly, half-hour audio program for radio and podcast that digs deeply into Scripture as the foundation for our lives. Our current hosts, Scott Hoezee and Darrell Delaney, cultivate our understanding of God’s Word by unpacking the richness of the Bible in casual conversation and applying it with insight for today’s world.