Gratitude is a vital part of our lives, and Christians should be filled to overflowing with it in all relationships and areas of life. We have so much to be grateful for, even when life is downright difficult, depressing, or feels impossible. There are several areas of life in particular that we can show gratitude in practical and creative ways.

I pray these 30 practical ways to show gratitude encourage you to be more thankful and show more appreciation throughout your life. Let God work from the inside out to transform your heart and lead you to live a more grateful life.

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10 ways to show gratitude to God

There are so many ways to show gratitude to God. We should strive to live out gratitude for God in all circumstances, and with all that He does and provides for us. When we live grateful hearts, we are more receptive to God and His instruction.

² Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2 ESV

God’s Word instructs us constantly to be grateful, to thank God, to have a heart of gratitude. God is worthy of all praise, honor, and thanks no matter what we face.

I pray you these 10 ways to show gratitude to God encourage you in your faith and relationship with your Heavenly Father.

1. Thank God in prayer and worship
2. Spend time in and obey God’s Word
3. Make time for God every day
4. Plant a gratitude garden
5. Start a gratitude journal
6. Use talents & resources He has blessed you with to serve others
7. Take care of and love people
8. Give to God’s Church
9. Take care of your body as His temple
10. Be a good steward of what He provides

• Read more: 10 ways to show gratitude to God

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10 ways to show gratitude to family and friends

All of us share the call to love God and love others. Expressing our gratitude for others is an important part of expressing our love for the people in our lives, as well as our gratitude to God for giving them to us and us to them. It is also an act of service to love and show gratitude to family and friends.

¹⁰ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 ESV

There are so many practical ways to show gratitude to family and friends, and this is another essential responsibility we have within all of our personal relationships. We are placed in the relationships we are on purpose, for God’s purpose. We have a beautiful opportunity to be God’s steward in these relationships, bringing His light, love, and truth to those He has placed in our lives. Sometimes these are the toughest relationships to see in this way, and we often take thankfulness for granted when it comes to friends and family.

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,

    and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17 ESV

I encourage you to use these 10 ways to show gratitude to family and friends and allow God to use you and grow both you and the people in your life.

1. Tell them what you appreciate and love about them
2. Thank them for both menial and significant tasks
3. Send them a thank you card, call, text, or email
4. Make special time for them
5. Pray for them and teach them about Christ
6. Thank them for simply being in your life
7. Be a good steward of your home and relationships
8. Display the fruit of the spirit within and about your relationships
9. Offer to help and listen in times of want and in times of plenty
10. Be a listening ear and comforter in times of need

Read more: 10 ways to show gratitude to family and friends

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10 ways to show gratitude to strangers

No matter how you are treated, no matter how you have been made to feel, show gratitude to strangers and share the love, mercy, grace, and kindness of God with them. Every little chance we get should be taken with a grateful heart and used to serve God and draw others closer to Him. We should appreciate the salvation and blessings we have received in our own relationship with God so much that we cannot help but show gratitude to strangers and plant seeds to draw them closer to the Lord and share in the blessings.

⁹ Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

1 Peter 3:9 ESV

All people are made in the image of God, His beautiful creations whom He loved so much He sent His only begotten Son to die as payment for their sins as well as yours. Jesus died for your salvation, and He also died for every person on this earth, which includes your family, friends, and even strangers. Show God that you appreciate His creations and gift of salvation for all who accept Christ, and help draw others closer to God in the ways you treat them on every occasion.

¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[a] He gave^[b] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17 CSB

God sent His Son to die for you, me, your family and friends, and also every other person on this planet. He has given us the greatest command to love Him, and also to love people. By showing gratitude to strangers we are extending God’s love beyond our comfort zone and inner-circles, and showing God’s love to people we don’t know and may never know, but also don’t know how God will use that seed of love in that person’s journey toward saving faith.

I pray these 10 ways to show gratitude to strangers ignite a passion for expressing gratitude to the passersby in your life to make a Kingdom difference every chance you get.

1. Perform a random act of kindness
2. Pay it forward
3. Pay for the person behind you in line
4. Hand out cards that highlight scriptures about thanksgiving
5. Greet and smile at passersby
6. Give compliments
7. Tip generously
8. Volunteer or donate to a Godly cause
9. Be kind and respectful
10. Be a graceful example of Christ

Read more: 10 ways to show gratitude to strangers

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Why should we show gratitude to others?

Gratitude is an essential part of every Christian’s life on this earth. It is a primary characteristic of the Christian heart, that we first show our gratitude to God, Creator of all things, to Jesus Christ, Savior and Redeemer, as well as God’s Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who believe in the Son as a guide through life. Our gratitude for God should be so great that we cannot help but pour it out all over our life.

Gratitude to God should be so genuine that it is evident in every area of our life. We are none of us perfect, we all miss the mark, we all fall short, and we all fail to be appreciative, but we can repent and be made clean again, and pray for the strength and change of heart to become more grateful.

¹⁰ God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast^[a] spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10 CSB

I pray regularly for God to create a clean heart in me, and renew a right spirit within me. I encourage you to do the same and let God transform you from the inside out, drawing you to become more grateful and take less for granted.

What ways do you find helpful to show gratitude to others? How do you realign your own heart with God and gratitude? How would you like to encourage someone else in gratitude and thanksgiving today?

Lift up your prayers and praises to the Father who loves you so much He sent His Son as payment for all of your sins, past, present, and future. Come to Him again, repent of any ungratefulness and grumblings, and allow Him to transform you.

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