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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pin me for later!
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.
Perform a random act of kindness
Pay it forward
Pay for the person behind you in line
Hand out cards that highlight scriptures about thanksgiving
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.
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?
Gratitude can be shown in many ways and to all people. We know we should show gratitude to God. We probably show gratitude to our family and friends. However, there are lots of other opportunities to show appreciation, care, and thanks. In fact, it can be a life changer when we take the time to show gratitude to strangers as well.
In this fast-paced, self-centered world, how can we possibly stop and show appreciation to people we don’t even know? Why on earth would we in the first place? Let’s dive into some encouraging ways (and reasons) to show gratitude to strangers that pass through our lives, and grow in our understanding of how this, too, brings God glory.
Perform a random act of kindness
First and foremost we must remember that we are called to love everyone. And not just love as we understand it, but love as God defines love. We are to love because God is love, because God loves us, and also because God loves everyone else as well. A vital aspect of Biblical love is kindness. By simply being kind we can express love and gratitude for others.
Random acts of kindness are generally spur-of-the-moment opportunities to do something out of pure kindness and love for someone else. We don’t do it to benefit ourselves, but to purely show some appreciation for our fellow human beings struggling alongside us in this human life. It could be buying the groceries for the mom struggling in line with her toddler, grabbing a coffee or sandwich to give to the homeless man on the corner, or any number of other opportunities to show kindness to others on a whim.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a]6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Another way to be kind is through generosity. Generosity is a beautiful way to show appreciation, and paying it forward is a great opportunity to express your gratitude to strangers. Paying it forward is doing something for someone else and then encouraging them to do likewise for someone else instead of them paying you back directly. There is no desire or expectation to be repaid, but instead for the generosity to be given to someone else instead.
42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
This can show someone you appreciate them simply existing in the same world as you and can be life-changing if not simply day-changing. One thing I love about paying it forward is that it is done not knowing someone’s need but simply trusting God’s prompting to be generous, loving, and show gratitude to strangers. Don’t stop to wonder God’s reason, whether someone can afford it, needs it, or deserves it, but just trust God’s instruction to show this incredible level of gratitude to strangers He puts in your path.
17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
An extension of paying it forward is paying for the person behind you in line. This is a fantastic way to pay it forward if someone has bought your order, but it is also simply a generous way to show some appreciation for strangers. This is done not knowing if the next person will pay it forward or not, but you do it knowing you got to love on someone and show gratitude to strangers with a simple act of generosity.
I remember when someone did this for me. I was stressed out and having a rough day and decided to spend the few bucks I had on a comforting coffee when the people in the car ahead of me had paid for my drink. I literally cried. At that moment I had so badly needed someone to show some love, and that was the ticket. God showed me the love I needed at that moment through a complete stranger. It turned my entire day around and years later I have never forgotten it.
6 The point is this:[a] The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
Hand out cards that highlight scriptures about thanksgiving
If you are creative or even a little bit introverted, a fun option could be making little cards, or even grabbing some cute ones from the dollar store. Giving thoughtful little cards can be such a nice way to show someone you appreciate them.
17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
When my kiddo and I go pick up groceries she loves to make handwritten notes to give to our grocery helpers that load up the bags into the car. It is always such a sweet exchange and clearly warms the hearts of our hard-working grocery workers.
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Adding something special like your favorite Bible passage, or even a little note saying “God bless” or “God loves you” can be a seed planter as well. These little opportunities can have such a huge impact. We may never know the impact it has but God does. In this, we can show our gratitude to God for the salvation and blessings we have received when we share it with others, as well as show gratitude to strangers He gives us the opportunity to bless in this small but impactful way.
Greet and smile at passersby
So simple yet such a needed reminder to smile at passersby rather than avoiding eye contact, acknowledge someone’s existence with a smile and a kind word. This can again show that you appreciate other fellow human beings just trying to make it in this world. As believers, we have our hope and joy in the Lord which should be reflected in how we see and treat others. We should absolutely show God we appreciate His creations and show His creations our gratitude for them as well by acknowledging them warmly and lovingly.
13 A joyful heart makes a face cheerful, but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.
Don’t look away, avert your eyes, avoid eye contact, or act as if someone isn’t there. Don’t give the stink eye because they are in your way or you’re just in a bad mood. Show kindness and gratitude with a smile and a kind greeting, even if it’s for no other reason than God put that person in your path at that moment. Take it as an opportunity to share His love and show some compassion and thanks to a perfect stranger.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Compliments are such a strange commodity in our culture nowadays. People seem to feel it will be taken the wrong way or it’ll just be awkward and they throw the whole idea out the window. I’d encourage you to take little opportunities to pay someone a compliment every day. This not only shows others they are appreciated but can help transform your heart from judgment toward seeing people as God sees them.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!
Another thing my kiddo likes to do when we get groceries is telling the grocery helper that they look nice. Man or woman, young or old, she tells them sweetly “you look nice today”. I love it. We get a variety of helpers and even when it’s the same person they never fail to show they appreciated the compliment every time, and in turn, my kiddo gets to show some appreciation for them as they tackle the challenges of their job.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
There are countless opportunities to acknowledge something you appreciate about random strangers. Compliment their smile, their eyes, or their name. I love to find things that are not material or that may be something they seem to feel self-conscious about but you want to encourage them about. Whatever you compliment, it is a great way to show gratitude to strangers as well as to God.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
This is likely to be the most controversial idea on the list, but nevertheless, I highly encourage you to show gratitude to the people serving you by tipping generously. Being generous should always be done out of a heart of giving, love, and thanks and never grudgingly. Giving can change our heart and perspective, and communicates to service workers that their work is appreciated.
38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Not only are we showing them our appreciation, but we get to worship God through an act of generosity, being a good steward of what God has entrusted us with. It is not ours, but God’s and He calls on us to be generous. Next time you get that takeout, pick up a latte, or get your hair cut, give the tip God lays on your heart to give and show those who have helped you some gratitude.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
There are endless causes and charities that always need help and support. From animal shelters to missions trips in third-world countries. Your church likely has a need for volunteers, and the foster care system needs Christmas gifts for the kids in their care. I loved going to nursing homes around Christmas growing up and singing Christmas carols, serving the elderly dinner, and visiting with them.
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
I also used to find ways to help the homeless in my area, make blankets and scarves, donate my old but still usable clothes to a women’s shelter versus a thrift store. Find ways to give of your time and the variety of resources God has blessed you with, and show gratitude to strangers as well as to God. Your time is precious, and the strangers who benefit from you spending some of your time to show them love and care will appreciate your appreciation and acknowledgment of their needs.
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’
One thing all of these ways to show gratitude to strangers have in common is they are all acts of kindness and respect to our fellow human beings. All people are created by God, loved by God, and should be loved by us. Kindness and respect are often considered things to earn or it is not shown, but we certainly have no right to that claim.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
God tells us to be kind to one another, to never tire of doing good, and He also tells us to do unto others as we would want them to do unto us. This is not what the world teaches, but is what God instructs. Showing kindness and respect to other people is a powerful way to encourage them and make them feel appreciated. We can never earn the love of God, and we should never treat others as though they have to earn it from us.
31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.
Show gratitude to strangers by simply being kind and showing them respect, no matter how they have treated or done to you. Love others, even your enemies, those who persecute you and mistreat you, and be the light in those moments as well as the joy-filled times that are easier to be kind and loving. Be grateful for the other people God created because He created them in His image and with a purpose and path as well.
9 Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
In all of these ways to show gratitude to strangers, we get to be examples of Jesus Christ. By treating others with kindness, love, respect, and appreciating that God put others alongside us on this earth we are able to grow in gratitude to God, to the people closest to us in this life, and strengthen our ability to appreciate the strangers who walk in and out of our days.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
With a heart of gratitude toward all people, we are better able to display the fruit of God’s Spirit and pour out the love of Jesus on the people we pass. All that we do should be done as to the Lord. We should remember that we are working for God out of love and gratitude to our Creator and Savior. Let God’s love pour out of you into the lives of others as you allow yourself to be filled with and show gratitude to strangers in your life, as well as to God and your family and friends.
35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
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.
How can you show gratitude to strangers and encourage others to do the same? In what ways would you appreciate others to show you some gratitude as you go through this life alongside them? Let’s exhort one another, encouraging each other to do good, and love others as God has called on us to do.
Free Gratitude Printables
Signup for the mailing list to grab these free gratitude printables!
Gratitude according to scripture is an active expression of thankfulness, not just words or actions but actually displaying and living as you mean it. We have taken a deep dive into gratitude itself, as well as 10 ways to show gratitude to God. It is also important to focus on showing those closest to us in this life that we appreciate and care for them, and that we do in fact truly appreciate them. What are some practical and creative ways we can show gratitude to family and friends?
We are in a season where people are more specifically focusing on being grateful and expressing their gratitude for and to others. It is always interesting how we are so prone to neglect gratitude the rest of the year and reserve our thanksgiving for the holiday season. I want to encourage us, though, to use these ideas in practical, everyday life all year long, not just leading up to Thanksgiving itself.
Tell them what you appreciate and love about them
One of the most basic but impactful things we can do to show gratitude to family and friends is to flat out tell them that we appreciate them, what we are thankful for, and that we love them. It sounds so simple, but if you’re like me we need these reminders. Something as simple as a compliment and word of appreciation can make a huge difference to someone’s day.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
I love that my husband and I have a habit of daily telling each other that we appreciate one another, and I always strive to thoroughly express my gratitude for him and what he does for me. Whether it be little or big, I thank him for it. And not just saying it, but I put my heart into it and truly strive to display my genuine gratitude.
For my kiddo, I try to make sure I thank her when she does something for me or even when she does her chores or listens to instructions I’ve given her. She always very obviously cherishes it when Mom says thank you and that she is appreciated.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
For my friends, I try to be intentional about expressing my appreciation to and for them. I express to each friend my gratitude in ways that speak more personally to each person. To clearly communicate love and appreciation requires us to go out of our way in ways that will speak to them specifically.
Each relationship and person is unique, and each will receive a clear sense of appreciation and affection uniquely as well. It is important that we take this into account when expressing something so important to those close to us. What doesn’t change is the need for this expression and communication within each relationship.
Thank them for both menial and significant tasks
Whether my kiddo completed an expected chore she is well trained in, takes a dirty dish to the kitchen for me, studies hard for a test, offers to do something for me, or makes me a heartfelt surprise, I make sure I thank her for it. This certainly should go hand in hand with telling our loved ones that we do in fact love and appreciate them, but again we so often need the reminder to say a simple yet important “thank you” every chance we get.
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly[a] mentioning you in our prayers,
Remember, not only are you to serve the Lord in all you do, but I find it helpful to remember that our family and friends are called to do the same. We should treat our loved ones as fellow workers for the Lord and exhort and encourage them in the work they are doing, no matter how significant or menial it seems to be. Thank them for choosing to bless you with their service, as well as for how they serve God in other ways outside of your personal relationship with them.
17 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.
Before the pandemic when my kiddo was attending school in person I used to send little love notes in her lunchbox all the time. Now she has a whiteboard in her room and I sneak in there and write a little something to her. She likewise enjoys leaving sticky notes around places she knows we will find them.
These little notes are amazing. Whether it is a thank you, I love you, or a silly joke, it lets the person know you care and appreciate them. This level of expressing gratitude is beautiful because it surprises the other person, and it requires some thought and effort on your part.
12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
Some other practical ways to leave a little note of affection and gratitude are making or buying some thank you cards, leaving a handwritten note where they will find it, sending a text or email, or making a phone call. These are such simple ideas to show gratitude to family and friends but can have a profound effect on the receiver of your note.
Pin me for later!
Make special time for them
It so often feels like time is the number one reason and excuse people give for not spending time with loved ones. We place work, hobbies, other people, and so many other things above spending time with our loved ones. Making time to invest in our relationships with family and friends is vital to the health of those relationships, and it is a massive way to show gratitude to family and friends.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
I have said it before, and I will say it again – you have time, you just choose to spend it differently. Throughout scripture, God teaches us how to prioritize our relationships. He always comes first, our spouse, then children, parents, and other direct family. Then comes fellow believers, ministry, and work.
The main point I want to make right now is that work and ministry come after our personal relationships. We should be prioritizing investing in our personal relationships and striving to live an orderly life, which in turn will help us show gratitude to family and friends.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
This requires making time for the people God has blessed us with. We show gratitude to family and friends by making time for them, showing them they matter to us, we appreciate them. This enables us to treat them as the blessing from God that they are. Not only does this show them we are grateful, but expresses to God that we are grateful to Him for the people in our lives. Treat those close relationships with true appreciation by investing some time into them.
Pray for them and teach them about Christ
Above all, no matter what else you do, never neglect to show gratitude to family and friends by praying over those relationships. This is a beautiful thing we can do even without them knowing, but also seeking out how we can pray specifically for them will show them we care as well. I pray for my husband and kiddo daily, as well as for my parents, siblings, and other direct family. I also seek out how to lift my friends up in prayer. When I don’t know what specifically to pray for, I still lift them up to God. I thank God for them and seek His protection, guidance, and peace for them.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
Rely on God’s Holy Spirit to guide your prayers over the people in your life. We don’t need to know the details, because God does. Simply lift the people in your life up to God in prayer and encourage them that you are doing so. Express to God as well as to them that you are praying over them, the greatest blessing you could do for them.
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Another aspect is to encourage them with God’s Word. Even with my family and friends that are not believers, I let them know I am praying for them, encouraging them with scripture, and am unashamed by my faith and encouragement toward them. Sharing scripture, even for the people in your life who are not believers, can be used by God to uplift them and show them your love and appreciation. It also, of course, can be used to help draw them closer to God.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[a] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
It can be something as simple as a card or note with an encouraging Bible passage, a text to ask how you can pray for them, or just simply praying over them each day. You can show gratitude to family and friends by daily lifting them up in prayer, praying scripture over them, and sharing appropriate passages with them when the opportunities arise. It is a great act of love to share God’s love with others.
Thank them for simply being in your life
Again, such a simple thing but such a profound impact. I make sure to tell my husband and child that I am grateful for them being in my life. I love my kiddo’s reaction every time. She always has this response of pure wonder. She asks me sometimes if I am happy she is my kid and I tell her every time “absolutely. I thank God for you every single day, and am blessed to have YOU as my child.”
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Letting the people in your life know that you are grateful simply to have them in your life is such a beautiful way to show gratitude to family and friends. They don’t have to do anything significant. Just the simple fact of them being in your life is a blessing and is something you are grateful for without anything extra.
Be a good steward of your home and relationships
One way I love to show my husband in particular that I appreciate him is to take care of our home and family as a homemaker. I see caring for my home as an investment into my family and my relationships with them. Even while I was working full time I was the one primarily tending to the home because it is an act of service I know I have been called to provide to show my appreciation for my family and my home.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
I work hard to ensure my family is fed, clothed, and lives in a clean, orderly environment filled with love. We can all do this in a variety of ways. From housework, grocery shopping, and meal prep to praying, reading scripture, and bedtime stories I make it my mission to show my family my appreciation by how I care for them.
No matter who you are, being a good steward of your relationships and your home is an act of service that communicates that you are grateful for them and want to serve them. It should not be done grudgingly, not grumbling for them to help, but simply act out of a heart of love and appreciation for them, choosing to serve them in the ways God provides for you to do.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a]6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Serve your relationships by showering them with love, patience, kindness, joy, honesty, and support. Live out God’s definition of love in your relationships, shower it over your home, and relish in the blessings of that love. Pour God’s love out into your relationships to show gratitude to family and friends.
Pin me for later!
Display the fruits of the spirit within and about your relationships
As we pour out God’s love into our relationships, we will better bear the fruits of His Spirit in those relationships. Love, patience, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control… all of these fruits take intention. We must choose to express and dwell in these attributes. We should never expect them to just come naturally. We should never just give up when they don’t show up. They take work, intention, and investment. They are a choice.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
When we invest in our relationships and intentionally choose to express these fruits, God blesses these relationships. When we strive to treat others as Christ does, remembering that He died not just for us but also for them, we can humbly serve, love, and cherish those relationships. In cherishing these relationships we show gratitude to family and friends in that we are willing to invest and purposefully take steps toward love and care.
Be a listening ear and comforter in times of need
By investing in the fruits of God’s Spirit, we should be patient, bearing with our loved ones, and choose to stop and listen, help, comfort, and guide them through whatever life throws their way. Just like making time for the people in our lives is important, taking it a step further to make time for them regardless of the ups and downs of life is profound.
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.[a]
Whatever your friends and family are facing, be there for them. Show gratitude to family and friends by simply being there when they need you. Be there when they are rejoicing, when they are mourning, when they are feeling utterly broken or brand new. As Christ is there for us in all seasons, we should be there for those family and friends God has given us.
Offer to help and listen in times of want and in times of plenty
Sometimes simply being there, listening, comforting, and rejoicing is not the end of the call. Sometimes we are given an opportunity to go above and beyond for the friends and family in our lives. It is so important to remember that God has given us all we have in order to bless others. What we have is not simply for ourselves, but to be shared and used to advance God’s Kingdom and care for fellow people on this planet as well.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Sometimes God will give you opportunities to use what He has given you to help your family and friends. Obeying this call, taking the opportunity, sacrificing for their sake can be an incredible way to 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.
The other day I needed to drop my kiddo off with my mom for a few hours for a doctor’s appointment. On my way to pick her up, I stopped and grabbed a coffee for my mom, knowing this would show her how much I appreciate her help that day. When a friend is in need, I pray for God to reveal how I can best serve that need and help my friend. Every occasion will look different, but we should always have a heart willing and ready to be used to serve the needs of others in the ways God calls on us to do.
Grab the Thankfulness Bible Reading Plan!
Why we should 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.
There are countless ways to show gratitude to family and friends. What are some other ways you show gratitude to the people in your life? What are some areas you struggle to show gratitude to family and friends? Let us know in the comments below and let’s encourage one another to grow in gratitude toward God as well as the people He has placed in our lives.
Free Gratitude Printables
Signup for the mailing list to grab these free gratitude printables!
Gratitude is an interesting topic for most people. Sometimes we feel guilty because we realize our lack of it, then five minutes later we are back to taking the things we should be more grateful about for granted. We live in a world full of people who want others to show them gratitude, but so often don’t think to show it themselves. We think we are worthy of it but treat others as if they are unworthy of it. Because of sin, we are not prone to naturally express gratitude the way God would have us do.
What is gratitude according to scripture?
In 1 Thessalonians 5, the Apostle Paul gives us some vital instructions. He tells us to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in everything (1 Thess. 5:16-18). With this exhortation comes other vital instructions for how Christians are to treat one another.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing. 12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you[a] in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle,[b]comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. 16 Rejoice always,17 pray constantly,18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
In verse 18, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, tells us to “give thanks in everything“. This term “give thanks” comes from the Greek word eucharisteō (G2168) and is used all over the New Testament. It means both to feel thankful as well as to actively express gratitude, and is most often used when giving thanks to God.
I love the context of giving gratitude, meaning it is not just a feeling, it is also displayed, shown, given. One participates in the act of expressing the gratitude one feels. Gratitude is much more than saying “thank you”. It is also much more than just feeling thankful. It is actively displaying your thanks. Gratitude if lived, not merely spoken or felt.
How should we show gratitude?
Scripture has a lot to say about gratitude, and many ways we can apply gratitude to our lives. An important aspect to note is that gratitude is intentional. We must act on and express our thankfulness. Over the coming weeks we will be exploring different ways Christians can express gratitude in different areas of our lives, including:
We will dive into what scripture says, as well as how we can practically, creatively, and purposefully live out gratitude in all areas of our lives. I invite you to commit with me to being more intentional about showing thanks to God and to others in your life, and learning more about how to do so.
Gratitude is God’s Will
While Paul encourages Christians to be thankful in everything, he also gives us the reason – gratitude is the will of God for those who are in Christ. The will of God is that His people are grateful. As followers of Jesus we should be filled up with gratitude for the salvation we have through the grace of God, and this gratitude should pour out of us to God and in our lives.
17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
We should be seeking to please God in all things, and gratefully acknowledge all that He has blessed us with. Gratitude, again, is active. It has to start inward, and then should flow out of us and be evident in our lives. When we delight in the Lord, we recognize His work and will in our lives, and we are thankful for Him, hunger and thirst for Him. This leads us to live out our gratitude toward Him in all areas of our lives because we gratefully delight in God and His will for our lives.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Telling God what you are grateful for as well as living it out in your life is vital to the Christian life. We should be recognizing God’s blessings every day. I personally have found that prayer journaling has helped me to stop and focus on what I am thankful for. I spend time every morning thanking God for what I have, what He has done, what I am waiting on, and everything in between.
Being able to write down my prayers and thanksgivings allows me to reflect back on it and reminds me again and again to not take these things for granted and to continue to be thankful. It also helpes me recognize when God has answered prayers, encourgaing me to lift up thanks now and see His work in my life constantly. I also plan to start a Gratitude Journal this month to really invest in cleaning my heart and focusing more on being intentionally thankful in more areas of my life on a broader scale.
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,
Throughout scripture we see examples of thanking God in prayer, and are encouraged to do likewise. Every morning I thank God in my prayers first, and I encourage you to take up the habit as well. It has helped me to see God’s hand and blessing in my life more clearly, and take them for granted less often.
20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The more we acknowledg God’s blessings in our life, the more grateful we become and the more natural it is to be actively grateful throughout our lives. Devote yourself to gratitude, and join me in developing more grateful hearts through intentional habits and centering our focus on Him every day.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.
To help us along, you can grab the free Thankfulness Bible Reading Plan, a free printable Gratitude Journal, and a printable with ideas about how to show gratitude as a Christian. Each were put together as free resources to encourage us all to live more thankful lives, intentionally and prayerfully. You can grab the Gratitude Journal and idea list when you signup for the mailing list, which will also set you up to recieve all kinds of other Bible studies, printable resouces and more.
Join the conversation and let us know in the comments below what has helped you develop a more grateful heart, as well as where you need some encouragement in your own journey. We are here to do life together, and part of that is sharing one anothers burdens and encouragements.
I am grateful for you being here and taking this journey with me, and I look forward to exploring more ways to express gratiutude together in the coming weeks.
Free Gratitude Printables
Signup for the mailing list to grab these free gratitude printables!
I am a wife, mom, writer, crafter, and above all, a Child of God. I love to study the Bible, fellowship with other Christians, and serve God. I am thrilled to invite you to join me in seeking to satisfy our thirsty souls with the Living Water of Christ, which is what Water On Thirsty Land is here to do.
