Thanksgiving Bible Verses to Give Thanks
Thanksgiving is a time when families come together to show gratitude. It reminds us to be thankful for everything we have in our lives, and it’s often one of the few times a year when we can truly enjoy the things and people we love. As a spiritual person, you may not view this time of the year as a religious season. However, there are plenty of thanksgiving Bible verses that remind us how connected the holiday is to the central tenets of our beliefs.
In the spirit of the season, we’ve compiled some of the most powerful verses into one place. These will help you appreciate Thanksgiving even more than you have before, so take time to read through each of these passages and reflect on what they say. Let these verses remind you of everything you have and what God has provided. More importantly, let them keep gratitude alive in your heart throughout the year — not just during the holiday season.
Thanksgiving Verses from the Word of God
Verses Reminding us to Give to God
Psalms 7:17: I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Psalms 31:19-20: [Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Psalms 50:14: Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the most High:
1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the LORD [is] a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand [are] the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills [is] his also.
5 The sea [is] his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry [land].
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7 For he [is] our God; and we [are] the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Verses Reminding Us to Praise and Serve
1 (A Psalm of praise.) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name.
5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.
Psalms 107:1 – O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good. For his mercy [endureth] for ever.
Psalms 116:12 – What shall I render unto the LORD [for] all his benefits toward me?
1 (David’s [Psalm] of praise.) I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
3 Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness [is] unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
6 And [men] shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.
Verses Reminding Us to Take Comfort in the Lord
Isaiah 12:1-6 – 1 And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
2 Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation.
3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this [is] known in all the earth.
6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great [is] the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
Lamentations 3:23 – [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness.
Matthew’s Lessons on Thanksgiving
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.
Giving Thanks for All Things
2 Corinthians 2:14 – Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Ephesians 5:20 – Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Philippians 4:6 – Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Colossians 3:15 – And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Hebrews 13:15 – By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.
James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
The Lesson of Thanksgiving Bible Verses? Have Gratitude
Having gratitude is more than just a polite gesture. Science has proven that it can actually improve both health and happiness. Focusing on what we’ve been given and refusing to take it for granted lets us see the world in a better way. You may benefit simply from taking a moment right now to reflect on what you’re grateful for. Try it!
In addition to improving health and happiness, research also shows that gratitude increases self-eseteem and helps us become more determined in achieving our goals. That’s a lot of good for something that can be summed up in a few Thanksgiving Bible verses! Gratitude also makes us more aware of our surroundings. It grants a sense of mindfulness that is a gift in iteself.
This allows us to learn without judgement and love without having fear. This can even help us form new relationships to be grateful for. When you think of all the benefits of gratitude, it’s clear why so many people feel increased happiness during the holiday season. If these many benefits are motivating you towards gratefulness, take another minute to review the Thanksgiving Bible verses above!
Remember That Gratefulness Is the Way of the Lord
Remember: gratefulness isn’t just some nicety that we should do to be polite. It’s an action that can change your life if you engage in it daily. The moment we’re able to stop taking things for granted, the Lord will allow us to grow into everything we can be. We’ll be able to silence those inner voices that are critical of our goals. In essence, the world becomes just as beautiful as God intended it to be.
Take a moment to share these Thanksgiving Bible verses with the people you love. Even if you don’t forward this article, sharing a few of the verses on your social media might just give people a gentle reminder on the importance of gratitude.
