Bible Verses About Being Thankful (KJV) and a Prayer
Twelve King James Bible verses about being thankful, with a short reflection on gratitude and a simple prayer of thanks you can pray today.
A Reflection and a Prayer of Thanks
Reading these bible verses about being thankful, one thing stands out: gratitude is not only a feeling that visits us on good days. Paul says to give thanks "in every thing," and the psalms tell us to "forget not all his benefits." Thankfulness is something we practice, and it is a way of remembering who has been holding us all along.
You do not have to feel cheerful to begin. Start small. Name one gift from today, a meal, a kind word, a quiet hour, and say thank you to God for it. Over time that habit changes how you see the whole day.
A prayer of thanks
Lord, thank You for this day and for the breath in my lungs.
Thank You for the people who love me, for the ones who have forgiven me, and for the ones who are still teaching me patience.
Thank You for the things I asked for and for the things I did not know to ask for. Thank You for the mercy that has met me again and again.
When I am tempted to count only what is missing, open my eyes to what is already given. Make my heart quick to say thank you, and slow to complain.
Let my gratitude become kindness toward others, so that someone else may feel Your goodness through me.
Blessed be Your name now and always. Amen.
How to Use These Verses
Choose one verse each morning and read it slowly, twice. Then write down or say aloud three things you are thankful for. Many families also read a verse together before the evening meal.
The psalms (Psalm 100, 107 and 95) work well as short prayers of thanksgiving at the start of Mass or Sunday worship. Philippians 4:6 is a good verse to keep nearby when you are anxious, because it joins prayer and thanksgiving in a single sentence.
All verses on this page are from the King James Version, which is in the public domain.
Scripture to Pray With
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 107:1 (KJV)
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Psalm 100:4 (KJV)
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3:15 (KJV)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:6 (KJV)
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Psalm 103:2 (KJV)
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High.
Psalm 92:1 (KJV)
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Psalm 95:2 (KJV)
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:17 (KJV)
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20 (KJV)
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2 (KJV)
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
2 Corinthians 9:15 (KJV)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about being thankful?
Scripture calls us to give thanks to God for his goodness and mercy (Psalm 107:1) and to do it in every situation (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude is presented as part of prayer and daily life, not only an occasional feeling.
What is the best Bible verse about giving thanks?
Many people choose 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you," or Psalm 107:1. The best one is the verse you will remember and pray.
How can I be thankful when life is hard?
Start with something small and true, and thank God for it. Giving thanks does not deny your pain. Philippians 4:6 invites you to bring your requests to God with thanksgiving, so both can be said together.
What Bible verse can I read at Thanksgiving?
Psalm 100:4, Psalm 107:1 and 1 Chronicles 16:34 are popular at the table. Colossians 3:17 is also fitting, since it reminds us to give thanks in everything we do.
Is there a difference between thankfulness and thanksgiving in the Bible?
In the King James Version, "thankful" describes the attitude of the heart (Colossians 3:15), while "thanksgiving" is often the act of offering thanks to God, in worship or in prayer (Psalm 95:2).
Last updated 2026-10-20