Gratitude feels forced when you’re struggling. You know you’re supposed to be thankful, that counting blessings is good for you, but when you’re dealing with real problems and genuine disappointments, listing things you’re grateful for feels like toxic positivity that ignores reality. You’re tired of people telling you to just be more grateful as if that’s a magic solution to legitimate difficulties. Meanwhile, your natural bent is toward noticing what’s wrong, what’s missing, and what’s not working rather than appreciating what you have.
What makes gratitude particularly challenging is sustaining it beyond momentary feelings or forced exercises. It’s easy to feel grateful when good things happen. It’s much harder to maintain a posture of thanksgiving when circumstances are difficult, when prayers go unanswered, when you’re watching others receive blessings you’ve been asking for. You want gratitude that’s authentic rather than performative, that acknowledges real struggle while still recognizing God’s goodness, that transforms your perspective without denying legitimate pain.
These verses speak to gratitude as a spiritual discipline, a commanded posture, and a practice that fundamentally changes how you experience life regardless of circumstances.
Bible Verses For Practicing Gratitude Daily
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give Thanks in All Circumstances
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
New International Version (NIV)
2. Psalm 100:4 – Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
New King James Version (NKJV)
3. Colossians 3:15 – Let the Peace of Christ Rule
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
New Living Translation (NLT)
4. Philippians 4:6 – Do Not Be Anxious About Anything
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
New International Version (NIV)
5. Psalm 107:1 – Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
New King James Version (NKJV)
6. 1 Chronicles 16:34 – Give Thanks to the Lord
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
New Living Translation (NLT)
7. Colossians 4:2 – Devote Yourselves to Prayer
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
New International Version (NIV)
8. Psalm 95:2 – Let Us Come Before His Presence
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
New King James Version (NKJV)
9. Ephesians 5:20 – Always Giving Thanks
And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
New Living Translation (NLT)
10. Psalm 136:1 – Give Thanks to the Lord
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
New International Version (NIV)
11. Colossians 3:17 – And Whatever You Do
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
New King James Version (NKJV)
12. 1 Timothy 4:4-5 – Since Everything God Created Is Good
Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.
New Living Translation (NLT)
13. Psalm 118:24 – This Is the Day
The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
New International Version (NIV)
14. Hebrews 12:28 – Therefore, Since We Are Receiving
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
New King James Version (NKJV)
15. Psalm 69:30 – I Will Praise God’s Name
Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
New Living Translation (NLT)
16. 2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks Be to God
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
New International Version (NIV)
17. Psalm 92:1 – It Is Good to Give Thanks
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.
New King James Version (NKJV)
18. Psalm 9:1 – I Will Thank You, Lord
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
New Living Translation (NLT)
19. Romans 1:21 – For Although They Knew God
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
New International Version (NIV)
20. Psalm 106:1 – Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
New King James Version (NKJV)
21. Daniel 2:23 – I Thank and Praise You
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength.
New Living Translation (NLT)
22. Psalm 50:23 – Those Who Sacrifice Thank Offerings
Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.
New International Version (NIV)
23. Jonah 2:9 – But I, with Shouts of Thanksgiving
But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to You. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, “Salvation comes from the Lord.”
New King James Version (NKJV)
24. Psalm 30:12 – That My Heart May Sing Your Praises
That I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
New Living Translation (NLT)
25. Psalm 7:17 – I Will Give Thanks to the Lord
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
New International Version (NIV)
26. Psalm 18:49 – Therefore I Will Give Thanks
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.
New King James Version (NKJV)
27. Luke 17:15-16 – One of Them, When He Saw
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done.
New Living Translation (NLT)
28. Psalm 34:1 – I Will Extol the Lord
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
New International Version (NIV)
29. 1 Corinthians 15:57 – But Thanks Be to God
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
New King James Version (NKJV)
30. Psalm 147:7 – Sing to the Lord with Grateful Praise
Sing out your thanks to the Lord; sing praises to our God with a harp.
New Living Translation (NLT)
31. 2 Corinthians 4:15 – All This Is for Your Benefit
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
New International Version (NIV)
32. Psalm 28:7 – The Lord Is My Strength
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.
New King James Version (NKJV)
33. James 1:17 – Whatever Is Good and Perfect
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.
New Living Translation (NLT)
34. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice Always
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
New International Version (NIV)
35. Psalm 103:1-2 – Bless the Lord, O My Soul
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Practicing Gratitude Daily
Scripture commands gratitude not as a suggestion but as God’s will for believers in Christ Jesus. The repeated instruction to give thanks in all circumstances, always, and continually makes clear that gratitude isn’t supposed to be circumstantial but a consistent posture regardless of what’s happening. This isn’t about denying reality or pretending everything is fine when it’s not. It’s about choosing to recognize God’s goodness, faithfulness, and provision even when life is difficult.
What’s significant about biblical gratitude is that it’s connected to worship and awareness of who God is. You give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever. Gratitude flows from understanding what God has done, who He is, and what He’s given. When you forget His benefits, ingratitude creeps in naturally. When you remember His faithfulness, salvation, provision, and presence, thanksgiving becomes the appropriate response. The practice of gratitude trains your mind to notice God’s work rather than fixating on what’s lacking.
The combination of prayer with thanksgiving is crucial. You’re instructed to present requests to God with thanksgiving, which means acknowledging what He’s already provided even as you ask for more. This prevents entitlement and maintains proper perspective. Gratitude doesn’t eliminate difficulty but it changes how you experience difficulty by keeping you anchored to truths bigger than your current circumstances.
Say This Prayer
Father, I confess that gratitude doesn’t come naturally to me, especially when circumstances are difficult. My default is to focus on what’s wrong, what’s missing, and what’s not working rather than on what You’ve already provided. Change my heart and renew my mind so that thanksgiving becomes my consistent posture rather than an occasional feeling when good things happen.
Help me to give thanks in all circumstances, not because everything is good but because You are good and Your mercy endures forever. Teach me to remember Your benefits, to recognize Your provision, and to see Your faithfulness even in seasons of struggle. When I’m anxious about what I need, help me to present my requests with thanksgiving for what You’ve already given.
Make gratitude a daily discipline in my life, not a forced exercise but an authentic response to who You are and what You’ve done. Open my eyes to see blessings I’ve been overlooking, to appreciate gifts I’ve been taking for granted, and to recognize Your work in ways I’ve been missing. Let thanksgiving overflow from my life as a testimony of Your goodness and bring glory to Your name.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.