Being thankful is a clear and fruitful blessing. It doesn’t mean we like everything all the time, but it does mean we can find God’s gifts all the time, every day, in every circumstance. Without gratitude we can become self-centered, believing we achieve everything on our own. Thankfulness keeps our hearts in the right relationship with God, the giver of all good gifts. We can have thankful hearts even when our circumstances do not cry out for thankfulness.

Cultivating a thankful heart begins with the awareness of God’s goodness and grace. It is the indwelling of his Spirit who sanctifies us. Thankfulness is a response to God’s love, which is characterized by the fruit of His Spirit. The Apostle Paul tells us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we bear the fruit of the Spirit and have a heart with an endless supply of thankfulness. It is our response to God’s Spirit that enables us to bear His fruit and gives us abundant reasons to live with gratitude.

Praise

Give praise that we can enter the Lord’s presence with sincere thanks and enthusiastic praise. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4).

Why should we have a heart of thankfulness?

Thankfulness is a part of the new life with Christ. “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving,” (Colossians 2:6-7).

How can we be thankful for the fruit of the Spirit?

Love as Christ loves. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you,” (John 15:12). 

Have the peace of Christ. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid,” (John 14:27).

Have the joy of salvation. 1 Peter 1:8-9 states, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Pray

Holy Father,

With a thankful heart we approach your throne, grateful for your presence and blessing your holy name! Lord, we pray for your Spirit to guide us in bearing your fruit as we cannot do this on our own. We pray that the fruit of your Spirit, that reflects your character, be reflected in us. May our lives be the witness to your goodness and grace, building an abundance of thankfulness for your love for us.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Note. Scripture verses are in the English Standard Version (ESV).