5 Practices That Will Cultivate An Attitude Of Gratitude

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
-Proverbs 31:28

As Christians, we are taught that showing gratitude is a vital part of our faith. We’re told to be thankful in all things and to praise God for His blessings. We are grateful to God for who He is as well as the blessings we receive from Him. But how do we cultivate an attitude of gratitude? It’s not always easy because life can get so demanding, but there are some simple ways to implement the practice of gratitude.

What The Bible Teaches About Gratitude

The Bible teaches us that it is God’s will for us to maintain a sincere heart of gratitude. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. In Colossians 3:15-16, the church is encouraged to allow Christ to rule in their hearts and be thankful. And Psalm 100:2 says that we are to serve the Lord with gladness!

How Do You Cultivate Gratitude

Gratitude is a discipline. We can practice it and get better at it. It’s not always easy when life gets so demanding, but there are some simple ways to implement the practice of gratitude. Here are 5 practices I’ve found helpful in cultivating my own attitude of gratitude:

Be aware of your attitude. In a world where complaining comes more naturally than complementing, it’s important to actively think about things that are good, lovely, a good report, etc. (Philippians 4:8).
Journal your thoughts. Spend a few minutes each day writing down some thoughts on what you are grateful for or make a list 3 things you are grateful for.
Read a Bible verse. Do a word search and begin finding Bible verses that talk about being grateful. Use different terms like give thanks, thankfulness, and joy to discover more.
Be humble. There are a lot of people who have influenced you through the years or who have an active part in your life daily. Think about them and think about what you appreciate in them.
Prayer and praise. Nothing puts more gratitude in your heart than speaking with God and praising Him for His goodness. He is kind and merciful. Consider who He is and then allow your heart to be filled with praises due Him.

Bible Verses About Gratitude

Pray and be grateful are terms found frequently used in the Bible in one form or another. Here are 10 Bible verses to encourage a heart of gratitude.

Numbers 6:24-26
Psalm 95:2-3
Psalm 103:2-5
Psalm 118:24
Lamentations 3:22-23
2 Corinthians 2:14
2 Corinthians 4:15-16
Philippians 4:6-7
Philippians 4:12-13
James 1:2-4

Keep A Gratitude Journal

Commit to starting a gratitude journal, even if it’s only for the next 30 days. Start by writing down 3 things that make you happy or grateful before going to bed at night, and then read what you wrote in the morning when you wake up with fresh eyes. Add to the list before getting too busy in your day.

In this day of social media overload, there is more need than ever for self-reflection—especially if we tend to look outside ourselves for fulfillment rather than looking upwards. Studies show that people who practice gratitude regularly are more likely to be healthier than those who don’t. If you would like a little more structure to keep a gratitude journal, I have gratitude journals available to purchase on Amazon. Visit my author page to view them all. Otherwise, use a sheet of paper or a notebook.