September 16th, 2025
This week, I’ve been thinking about the power of gratitude—or thanksgiving. I know this isn’t quite when everyone is preparing their turkeys and thinking about thanksgiving, but living in gratitude is something we should do all year round. Thanksgiving is a Biblical principle, but it also has physical, emotional, and mental benefits that can be scientifically proven!
Recent studies show that practicing gratitude over time lowers stress hormones and calms the brain’s threat detection area, which is often overactive during panic and anxiety. Gratitude boosts the release of dopamine and serotonin—our “happy” neurotransmitters that support our mood and emotional resilience. Some research even found that practicing gratitude lowers inflammation markers throughout the body. These weren’t studies that just asked people how they felt after being thankful. These researchers measured brain activity, hormone levels, and inflammation markers—proving the powerful benefits of being thankful.
Now, all that scientific research doesn’t even consider everything the Bible teaches about gratitude, but it still proves the power of Biblical truth.
Philippians 4:6-7 says,
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
This is the Biblical prescription for fear and anxiety, and you can’t just take part of it! Thanksgiving is key to being free from fear. When you pour out your heart to God, you must do it with thanksgiving. If you are anxious and troubled, you can’t only rehearse it to the Lord. Thanksgiving is part of His command. Do not be anxious; Let your concerns be known to God by prayer with thanksgiving. Peace will come and guard your heart and mind! Then you’ll be able to think on the things listed above—thoughts that heal and elevate. The God of peace will be with you! Let’s look at a few more verses about gratitude:
Ephesians 5:20 says,
“Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says,
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Colossians 3:15 says,
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
The book of Psalms is full of verses about giving thanks to God.
Psalm 136:1 says,
“Give thanks to the LORD; for He is good, and His love endures forever.”
The Bible repeats a version of that scripture over forty times.
It doesn’t say, give thanks to the Lord, because you feel like it, or because you have everything you’ve ever wanted. Biblical gratitude is rooted in the goodness of God.
Matthew 7:11 says,
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
The goodness of God is the foundation of our thanksgiving. As His children, we have the promise of His character and His goodness in every circumstance.
Romans 8:28 says,
“We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
God is good and we have every reason to be thankful. Living in Biblical gratitude will change our perspective and measurably affect us emotionally and physically. However, we have to understand that thanksgiving is not a feeling—it’s an action. The Bible teaches that thanksgiving is a sacrifice. Actual animal sacrifices of thanksgiving are outlined in the law (Leviticus 7:12-15 and Leviticus 22:29-30), demonstrating thanksgiving is something we do, not something we just think or feel. Thanksgiving will change the way you feel but it’s something you choose to do, intentionally, because God is good and He deserves our thanksgiving.
Psalm 50:23 says,
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
Hebrews 13:15 says,
“Through [Jesus] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.”
There is a story in the gospel that captures this truth.
Luke 17:11-19 says,
“Now on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When He saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
See, thanksgiving must be expressed! The Samaritan in the story above changed course, leaving the other nine men, to come back and fall at the feet of Jesus. The others probably felt thankful. I’m sure they were grateful to be cleansed, but thanksgiving must be given. It’s not a feeling!
This week, we want to encourage you to dwell on the goodness of God. That is the place our gratitude must be rooted. If we wait to thank God because we feel like it, our hearts will grow cold and bitter. If we root our thanksgiving in our circumstances, it will shift, but His goodness, His love, His faithfulness, His mercy are all unchanging.
James 1:17 says,
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
He is good. He sent Jesus so nothing could separate us from His love. He’s our healer, our provider, closer than our next breath and more intimate than our best friend. Thank Him for all He is and all He’s done! It will change your perspective; it will bring peace that guards your heart and mind. It will physically change your brain and body. Thank Him! It’s what you were made for!
Recent studies show that practicing gratitude over time lowers stress hormones and calms the brain’s threat detection area, which is often overactive during panic and anxiety. Gratitude boosts the release of dopamine and serotonin—our “happy” neurotransmitters that support our mood and emotional resilience. Some research even found that practicing gratitude lowers inflammation markers throughout the body. These weren’t studies that just asked people how they felt after being thankful. These researchers measured brain activity, hormone levels, and inflammation markers—proving the powerful benefits of being thankful.
Now, all that scientific research doesn’t even consider everything the Bible teaches about gratitude, but it still proves the power of Biblical truth.
Philippians 4:6-7 says,
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
This is the Biblical prescription for fear and anxiety, and you can’t just take part of it! Thanksgiving is key to being free from fear. When you pour out your heart to God, you must do it with thanksgiving. If you are anxious and troubled, you can’t only rehearse it to the Lord. Thanksgiving is part of His command. Do not be anxious; Let your concerns be known to God by prayer with thanksgiving. Peace will come and guard your heart and mind! Then you’ll be able to think on the things listed above—thoughts that heal and elevate. The God of peace will be with you! Let’s look at a few more verses about gratitude:
Ephesians 5:20 says,
“Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says,
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Colossians 3:15 says,
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
The book of Psalms is full of verses about giving thanks to God.
Psalm 136:1 says,
“Give thanks to the LORD; for He is good, and His love endures forever.”
The Bible repeats a version of that scripture over forty times.
It doesn’t say, give thanks to the Lord, because you feel like it, or because you have everything you’ve ever wanted. Biblical gratitude is rooted in the goodness of God.
Matthew 7:11 says,
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
The goodness of God is the foundation of our thanksgiving. As His children, we have the promise of His character and His goodness in every circumstance.
Romans 8:28 says,
“We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
God is good and we have every reason to be thankful. Living in Biblical gratitude will change our perspective and measurably affect us emotionally and physically. However, we have to understand that thanksgiving is not a feeling—it’s an action. The Bible teaches that thanksgiving is a sacrifice. Actual animal sacrifices of thanksgiving are outlined in the law (Leviticus 7:12-15 and Leviticus 22:29-30), demonstrating thanksgiving is something we do, not something we just think or feel. Thanksgiving will change the way you feel but it’s something you choose to do, intentionally, because God is good and He deserves our thanksgiving.
Psalm 50:23 says,
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
Hebrews 13:15 says,
“Through [Jesus] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.”
There is a story in the gospel that captures this truth.
Luke 17:11-19 says,
“Now on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When He saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
See, thanksgiving must be expressed! The Samaritan in the story above changed course, leaving the other nine men, to come back and fall at the feet of Jesus. The others probably felt thankful. I’m sure they were grateful to be cleansed, but thanksgiving must be given. It’s not a feeling!
This week, we want to encourage you to dwell on the goodness of God. That is the place our gratitude must be rooted. If we wait to thank God because we feel like it, our hearts will grow cold and bitter. If we root our thanksgiving in our circumstances, it will shift, but His goodness, His love, His faithfulness, His mercy are all unchanging.
James 1:17 says,
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
He is good. He sent Jesus so nothing could separate us from His love. He’s our healer, our provider, closer than our next breath and more intimate than our best friend. Thank Him for all He is and all He’s done! It will change your perspective; it will bring peace that guards your heart and mind. It will physically change your brain and body. Thank Him! It’s what you were made for!
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