10 Incredible Things to Thank God for Every Day

Be thankful for Jesus, the Savior.

1 John 4:14 reads, “. . . the Father has sent the son to be the Savior of the world.” The Son is the Father’s gift to us, and He wants us to rejoice and be grateful for that gift. Tied up in that word “Savior” is all that Jesus accomplished for God’s children in His sinless life, death, and resurrection. 

The prophet Isaiah described what the Son would do in Isaiah 53; and Jesus explained His mission to the disciples — the cross was the reason He came (Mark 8:31; John 12:27). Paul and Peter wrote about the Savior’s work on the cross in past tense (Romans 5:10; Colossians 2:13-14; 1 Peter 2:24). The Savior is proof of God’s love for us, and the blessings of being “in Christ” are spelled out in Scripture (Ephesians 1:3-21; 2:4-7).

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Be thankful for the “God-breathed” Scriptures.

Scripture is valuable and useful “for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). God has not left us without a revelation of who He is, and a training manual for life. The Word of God is “alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12). Isaiah said God’s words would “not come back empty-handed,” but would accomplish the work — “complete the assignment” — He sent them to do (Isaiah 55:11, MSG). We need the Word of God to instruct us in wisdom because our thoughts and ways are not like God’s thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:7-9). 

There are so many benefits of reading, studying, meditating on, and memorizing Scripture. For example, God’s Word is instrumental in our salvation, brings light into our circumstances, makes us holy, equips us for good works in ministry, enables us to prosper, and helps us fight our spiritual battles. Psalm 19:7-11 shares many of the benefits of the Word of God — described by different terms in this passage. God’s Word is valuable, rewarding, and “more precious than gold.”

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Be thankful for the sovereign plans and purposes of God.

The Bible plainly declares that our God in the heavens is completely sovereign and in control. Job declared that none of His purposes can be thwarted (prevented or hindered). His plans and purposes are based in His authority. All authority belongs to the Ancient of Days, and He has also given that authority to Jesus, the “son of man.” God’s sovereign rule is a call to surrender wholeheartedly to Him — conscious and respectful of His awesome power — and to reverently purify our hearts before Him. 

As we think about God’s sovereign purposes, we can be grateful and humbled, learning to be dependent on Him for everything. Nothing happens by accident in the purposes of God, and nothing takes Him by surprise. Though circumstances might frighten or upset us, we can choose to rest in God’s purposes for comfort and courage. As author Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth says, “Heaven rules.” God rules! He is sovereign in the seemingly random, senseless, and even horrible things that touch us. The Bible teaches that all things work together for the good of God’s children who are “called according to his purpose,” and one of His primary purposes is to make us more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). He has also graciously planned “in advance” works for each of us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

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Be thankful for the abundant, constant mercies of God.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says God’s mercies are “new every morning.” In the Old Testament, the “mercies of God” relate to the Father’s steadfast love for and forgiveness of His people. Because of His mercies, our past does not define our future. The New Testament expands on the concept of God’s mercy, placing it in light of Jesus’ sacrifice. In great mercy, God gave believers new birth in Christ. Mercy from God creates a distinct line of demarcation between those without Christ and those with Christ. Peter wrote, “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:10). 

The compassionate mercy that comes from God is inexhaustible — He is “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4-5). In great mercy, God extends undeserved blessings to His children and invites them to come boldly, confidently, to His throne room in prayer to “obtain mercy” and find grace for times of need (Hebrews 4:16). In view of God’s mercy, we need to live holy lives, pleasing to God; and part of that is showing mercy to others, a sign of our gratitude (Romans 12:1; Luke 6:36; 10:25-37).

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Be thankful for the manifold attributes of God.

Allow your gratitude to spill over into worship and praise! The psalmist said, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him…” (Psalm 100:4). A good daily practice is meditating on the attributes (characteristics) of God. Here are just a few. God is omniscient (He knows everything), omnipresent (He is present everywhere), and omnipotent (He is all-powerful). God is infinite — self-existing or without origin. He is also immutable — unchanging in his character, will, and covenant promises. God is entirely self-sufficient; He has no needs. 

The mercy of God has already been mentioned, but He is also gracious — choosing to offer benevolence to those who do not deserve His grace. He is also loving, good, kind, faithful, holy, righteous and just, wise and understanding, great, and glorious — which is the splendor and beauty of His spirit that emanates from His character. He is powerful, performing mighty, “wonderful deeds.” There is no one like our God!

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Be thankful for the wonders of God’s creative power.

Though marred by sin, God’s creation is still incredible, both on earth and throughout the universe. By faith, we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command (Hebrews 11:3) and for His glory. Although all of creation is valuable, the Bible notes that humankind is God’s “workmanship” or masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). With great skill, the Creator fashioned the first man and woman, and He is still intimately involved in shaping every person and putting “eternity” into every heart (Psalm 139:13-16; Ecclesiastes 3:11). 

God not only created the world and people, He also created special groups of people — His “chosen people, Israel, and those making up the “body of Christ” in His church (Ephesians 4:12-16). God’s people can rejoice that the Creator did not leave us without hope after the Fall into sin. He created the way to salvation, and everyone who receives Christ’s work on their behalf is a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). We can be grateful that “from him and through him and to him are all things” (Romans 11:36). For all of His handiwork, God deserves praise and thanksgiving.

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Be thankful for the unparalleled peace of God.

One of the distinguishing marks of the Christian is peace, and it comes directly from Father God. Philippians 4:7 refers to “the peace of God which transcends all understanding” and guards our thoughts and emotions. God’s peace is part of His character. We experience this peace as harmony and calmness in our body, mind, emotions, and spirit as we draw near to God and trust Him.

Jesus left His fearful disciples a kind of peace that was unlike anything the world has to offer (John 14:27), and Christ-followers ever since His resurrection receive this peace through the Holy Spirit. There is supernatural peace with God that comes through salvation in Jesus, the Prince of Peace, with our Savior making peace between God and us. Then there’s the contented peace of God that comes from the God of peace in our daily life choices. God’s peace accomplishes much, including relational peace and the breaking down of dividing walls of hostility (Ephesians 2:14), something so needed in this world.

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Be thankful for your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul wrote to the Philippian community of believers, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” Later, he urged them to follow his example, and that certainly would include gratitude for their Christian community. The early church was a powerhouse in meeting the needs of the family of believers and reaching out to others! It was an incredible gift from God.

Hebrews 10:24-25 urged two responsibilities for the family of God: to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds,” and to not give up meeting together. Members in the body of Christ need each other for help, support, and encouragement. They should operate in unity and peace, with purpose, and with great love. Believers benefit from not only rejoicing with those who rejoice, but also mourning with those who mourn — carrying one another’s burdens (Romans 12:15; Galatians 6:2). There is nothing like coming together in God’s house for teaching and to sing with gratitude in our hearts to Him (Colossians 3:16). Mutual accountability is also important to protect the family of God.

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Be thankful for countless gifts from God.

Begin with the spiritual gifts God gives each believer to serve Him and others (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-13). Discern the spiritual gift or gifts God has given you as an individual. Gifts are not meant to be compared. Every person’s spiritual gift is needed, even those that don’t seem as important. God does not make mistake in distribution of spiritual gifts. 

There are also many blessings that are ours “in the heavenly realms” in Jesus, including being chosen in Him to be made holy and adoption as God’s children. These wonderful gifts are the believer’s “to the praise of His glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:3-6). Jesus came to give His children full, abundant lives. We also need to be thankful for some gifts that come through unexpected and life-shaping tests and trials, maturing and completing us.

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Be thankful for all God’s promises to His children.

There are many “great and precious promises” given to God’s children through salvation in Christ. His divine power gives believers everything they need to live a godly life as they undergo a powerful spiritual transformation as “new creations” in Christ (2 Peter 1:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17). God promises to supply every need — not want — “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Other promises to believers are a way of escape from temptation, forgiveness of sin, a new heart and spirit, sufficient grace for salvation through faith, victory over death with eternal life and security, rest for our souls, and resurrection to our eternal home in heaven. How wonderful that God does not break His promises to us (Numbers 23:19).

Clearly, those who know God have so many reasons to express their thanks to Him!

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