1 Calhoun, A. (2015, Nov. 19). Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us. IVP. Retrieved Nov. 8, 2024.
Approved and verified accurate by the local outreach coordinator of the Office of Spiritual Life on Nov. 13, 2024.
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The key to growing in gratitude, like all spiritual practices, is understanding that transformation takes time. Most people don’t wake up one day suddenly overflowing with gratitude, especially during difficult circumstances. Instead, incorporating daily or weekly rhythms of gratitude will strengthen this muscle, and over time, you’ll find that you naturally develop a more grateful heart. Here are some exercises to get started:
It requires discipline to stitch our days together with the thread of gratitude. However, through these simple spiritual practices, you can begin to nurture a grateful heart that reflects God's goodness, strengthens your faith and brings greater joy into your everyday life. Calhoun writes that practicing gratitude can produce the following God-given fruit:1
With God dwelling inside of us, we have the power to turn from bitter people to thankful people. If you desire to learn more about gratitude or other spiritual practices, consider adding Grand Canyon University’s Spiritual Formation and Discipleship minor to your degree or exploring other programs within the College of Theology. You can also attend Spiritual Formation workshops to become further equipped with tools to live a vibrant life with God. Fill out the form on this page to learn more today.
Gratitude is not a practice we solely see executed on Thanksgiving or rare occasions but time and time again in Scripture. I encourage you to sit in these passages that demonstrate the concept of a grateful heart:
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. — Mark 6:41 NIV
In this biblical narrative, Jesus is faced with thousands of hungry people and only five loads of bread and two fish. Rather than groaning about God's expectation of him to feed such a large crowd with so little, he notices what is right in front of him and gives thanks.
Similarly, we are called to give thanks to God in all circumstances, a challenge especially difficult in times of hardship. When we see others being blessed with what we lack, our hearts may quickly turn bitter. Yet, because we know that God works all things together for good (Romans 8:28), we can choose to praise him in every season.
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. — Psalm 136:1-2 NIV
This Scripture emphasizes God's enduring goodness and love, reminding us to offer thanks for his unchanging nature. Repeating the phrase "his love endures forever" reinforces the assurance that God's love is constant, unshakeable and worthy of our continual gratitude.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Again, we are called to a life of constant thanksgiving, no matter the circumstances. It reminds us that living with a grateful heart is not only an expression of faith but also aligns with God's will for us.
In a culture that constantly pushes us to strive for more — more success, more possessions, more recognition — it’s easy to forget the power of gratitude. We often find ourselves measuring our worth against others and feeling dissatisfied with what we have or don’t have. Yet, true gratitude invites us to pause and give thanks for our everyday blessings.
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Gratitude is the ability to recognize and appreciate the full range of life’s blessings — big or small; good or bad — and to find a sense of meaning and connection in them all.
Author Adele Calhoun paints a beautiful analogy of this, saying it is a thread that can bind together all the patchwork squares of our lives — difficult times, happy days, seasons of sickness and hours of bliss.1
Having a grateful heart also requires a humble acknowledgment that all we have been given is from above. Practicing gratitude counteracts our pride and discontentment, shaping us into people marked by thankfulness and better reflecting the character of Christ.
