Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the abundant blessings bestowed upon us, and for Christians, it is an opportunity to center gratitude on the ultimate gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Rooted in the biblical call to give thanks in all circumstances, the following 18 Bible verses, drawn from both the original list by Concordia University Texas and additional selections, inspire a lifestyle of joy, worship, and heartfelt gratitude.
This collection of scriptures, primarily from the NIV with select verses in NKJV, NASB, and ESV, builds on the original article’s emphasis on gratitude for spiritual and material blessings while introducing new verses like Psalm 100:4 and John 3:16 to deepen the focus on worship and salvation.
Rejoicing and Continual Gratitude
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Encourages a lifestyle of constant joy, prayer, and gratitude, regardless of circumstances, as part of God’s plan for believers.
Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Links rejoicing and thanksgiving with prayer, promising God’s peace as a result of grateful trust.
Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Calls for daily gratitude and joy for God’s creation and provision.
Psalm 100:4 (NIV)
(New) “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Invites worshippers to approach God with gratitude and praise, emphasizing a heart of thanksgiving in worship.
Praising God’s Name and Deeds
Psalm 103:1-4 (NIV)
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my innermost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” Urges the soul to praise God for His benefits, including forgiveness, healing, and redemption.
Isaiah 12:4-5 (NASB)
“And on that day you will say, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted.’ Praise the Lord in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth.” Encourages proclaiming God’s deeds and exalting His name through song and thanksgiving.
1 Chronicles 29:13 (NKJV)
“Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.” A direct expression of gratitude and praise for God’s greatness.
Psalm 105:1-2 (NIV)
(New) “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.” Calls for public thanksgiving and sharing God’s wonderful deeds with others.
God’s Goodness and Enduring Love
1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV)
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” Celebrates God’s goodness and eternal love as reasons for gratitude.
Psalm 107:1-3 (ESV)
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.” Emphasizes gratitude for God’s enduring love and redemption of His people.
Psalm 136:1-3 (NIV)
(New) “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.” Repeats the refrain of God’s enduring love, reinforcing His supreme goodness and authority.
Thanksgiving in Worship and Faith
Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)
“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.” Encourages gratitude in community worship and all actions, rooted in Christ’s peace.
Ephesians 5:18-20 (NASB)
“…but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father.” Advocates Spirit-filled worship and constant gratitude for all things.
Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” Describes praise and thanksgiving as a continual offering through Jesus.
God’s Creation and Sovereignty
Psalm 95:1-5 (NKJV)
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.” Celebrates God as Creator and King, worthy of joyful thanksgiving.
God’s Gifts and Blessings
James 1:17 (NIV)
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Affirms God as the source of all good gifts, unchanging and reliable.
2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” Expresses gratitude for God’s ultimate gift, understood as salvation through Christ.
John 3:16 (NIV)
(New) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Highlights the ultimate reason for thanksgiving—God’s gift of His Son for salvation, tying directly to the article’s emphasis on Christ’s redemptive work.
Conclusion
The 18 Bible verses about Thanksgiving, blending selections from the Concordia University Texas article with new additions like Psalm 100:4 and John 3:16, offer a profound call to cultivate gratitude as a cornerstone of faith. Organized into six themes—rejoicing and continual gratitude, praising God’s name and deeds, God’s goodness and enduring love, thanksgiving in worship and faith, God’s creation and sovereignty, and His gifts and blessings—these scriptures emphasize that giving thanks is not confined to a single day but is a daily act of worship.
Together, these verses, drawn primarily from the NIV with select use of NKJV, NASB, and ESV, inspire a holistic gratitude that encompasses both spiritual and material blessings, with a particular focus on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. They encourage believers to express thanks through prayer, song, and obedient living, fostering peace and unity in the body of Christ (Colossians 3:15-17).
