The word "joy" occurs 181 times in the Bible, and the theme of thanksgiving is woven like a golden ribbon throughout the fabric of Scripture.
God wants to hear our doubts, fears and questions; but He especially desires our praise! He seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Here are some practical Bible verses about showing thanks and praise to God.
1. Psalm 92:1-2
A day that begins and ends in prayer and praise won't become unraveled.
"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name... to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night."
Psalm 92:1-2
2. Psalm 119:62
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God at midnight.
We can do the same. If I'm awakened in the still and quiet of the night, it may be to tell the Lord what's troubling me or to praise Him.
"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
Colossians 3:17
3. Romans 14:6
We can also praise God three times a day when we sit down to eat.
"He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks."
Romans 14:6
It's a silent reminder to those around us and a visible reminder to all of us that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above.
4. Colossians 4:2
Biblical prayer is always girded up and surrounded with gratitude. We're to enter His gates with thanksgiving, which is the spirit of prayer, the very breath of prayer.
"Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving."
Colossians 4:2.
If we would learn to say "thank you" with a smile for all favors done for us—especially saying "thank you" to God for every blessing—it would give us a whole new outlook on each day. Nothing brightens life like the spirit of thanksgiving.
5. Colossians 3:17
Praise and thanksgiving are good barometers of spiritual health. According to Colossians 3:17, we're to thank God in every word and action:
"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
Colossians 3:17
Speak every word in gratitude, and do everything with a thankful heart.
Whenever we awaken in the morning or retire at night, if we're sleepless at midnight, whenever we eat, every time we pray, and in all our words and deeds—all should be tinged with thanksgiving the way the morning sky is tinged with crimson.
Final Thought: Thanksgiving Day for All Eternity
Finally, give thanks at all times both now and in eternity. In Ephesians 5, we're told that when the Spirit of God fills our lives, we'll be thankful to God in all present situations. And here's the capstone - that's what we'll be doing throughout eternity.
Thanksgiving isn't going to end when heaven begins. Praise and thanksgiving just go right on out into the future. We won't have a Thanksgiving Day in eternity because every day will be Thanksgiving. Every time we see our Lord and every time we think of our redemption, we'll just break into praise.
Think about it—we're going to fill heaven's corridors with the sound of praise and thanksgiving throughout the endless, joyous, never-ending eons of eternity. Psalm 89:1 says, "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever."
Learn a praise verse above, teach it to your children, share it with your friends. Practice it, and begin giving the Lord real praise and genuine thanksgiving every morning and night, whenever you awake, at every meal, and with every word and deed, whenever you pray, at all times now—and forever. We want God to know we adore Him.
So praise the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name forever!