The Importance of Having a Grateful Heart

A grateful heart has the power to shift your entire perspective. When you slow down long enough to notice God’s blessings, both big and small, your mind begins to move away from stress, frustration, and comparison, and toward peace, joy, and contentment.

Gratitude doesn’t ignore the hard things; it simply reminds your heart that God is still good in every season and that His goodness can always be found when you choose to look for it.

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Definition of Gratitude

There are several definitions of gratitude including the following:

• an emotion of the heart, excited by a favor or benefit received:

• a sentiment of kindness or good will towards a benefactor;

• the quality of being thankful;

• thankfulness.

  
  

While these definitions are straightforward and widely understood, what truly caught my interest was the deeper explanation and illustrative sentence that Webster adds:

Definition: “Gratitude is an agreeable emotion, consisting in or accompanied with good will to a benefactor, and a disposition to make a suitable return of benefits or services, or when no return can be made, with a desire to see the benefactor prosperous and happy. Gratitude is a virtue of the highest excellence, as it implies a feeling and generous heart, and a proper sense of duty.”

Use in a sentence: The love of God is the sublimest gratitude.

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Gratitude is a Choice

Gratitude is a choice. Plain and simple. We choose to be grateful, or we choose not to be.

Let me be clear: I’m not just talking about being grateful when your spouse helps with the dishes or when a friend lends a hand on a home project. Those things matter, but I want to take gratitude a step deeper. We should continually thank our Father in Heaven for the countless blessings He provides every single day.

In the busyness of life, it’s easy to overlook the small ways God cares for us. We rush, we hurry, and we forget to pause and simply say, “Thank You.” Yet God loves us unconditionally and pours out blessings whether we notice them or not. And if we’re honest, we all take far more for granted than we realize… myself included.

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Did You Know Gratitude Has Scientifically Proven Benefits?

According to Psychology Today, gratitude does more than lift your spirits, it actually helps your body and mind relax. Practicing thankfulness can improve your relationships, increase kindness, boost optimism, and raise self-esteem. Grateful people even tend to be healthier and sleep better.

All of that is wonderful, but the spiritual benefits of gratitude far outweigh the scientific ones. A grateful heart draws us closer to God because He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).

Gratitude isn’t just good for us, it deepens our relationship with the One who gives us every good thing.

So with all of this in mind, how do we show God that we truly have a grateful heart?

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5 Ways to Show God that We Have A Grateful Heart

Prayer

Prayer is one of the most meaningful ways we express gratitude to God. He delights in hearing our sincere thankfulness, not just for the big blessings, but for the small, easily overlooked gifts He provides every day.

Everything we have - our food, our home, our car, our income, our relationships - comes from His generous hand. These things feel like daily necessities, yet they are all gracious provisions from a loving Father. Remembering this keeps our hearts humble and grateful.

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

Repentance

The very fact that God allows us to repent is something to be grateful for. Repentance is both a gift and a blessing because it cleanses us, restores us, and realigns our hearts with God. When we come to Him in repentance, we show our gratitude for His mercy, His patience, and His never-ending grace.

Jesus said "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32)

Obedience

If we truly love God and are grateful for all He has done for us, obedience becomes a natural response. God knows what is best for us, and His commands are given out of love. When we choose obedience, we show Him that we trust Him completely.

We lose nothing by obeying God - but we gain everything.

Jesus replied "Anyone who loves Me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." (John 14:23)

Humility

A grateful heart is a humble heart. When we walk in humility, we acknowledge God’s authority over every circumstance, the good and the difficult. Humility shows God that we trust His wisdom, His timing, and His sovereignty. It is a beautiful act of gratitude that says, “Lord, I depend on You.”

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:10)

Gratitude Toward Others

Being grateful to the people God places in our lives is another way we show gratitude to Him. Many times, God uses others as vessels of His provision, encouragement, and help. When we thank them, acknowledge their kindness, or return a favor, we honor the God who sent them.

A simple “thank you” can brighten someone else’s day - and yours too.

"May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this." (2 Samuel 2:6)

When Should We Show Gratitude to God?

We are called to be grateful to God in all things and at all times, no matter what our circumstances look like. It’s easy to thank God when life is smooth and everything feels good - that doesn’t require much effort. But true spiritual growth happens when we choose gratitude in the middle of trials, disappointment, or seasons of waiting. That’s when gratitude becomes a powerful act of faith.

Hard times can pull us toward negativity, discouragement, or fear. But it’s in those very moments that God is ready to be the strength we need. If you can’t yet thank Him for your situation, thank Him for what He’s teaching you through it. There is always purpose in His process.

One of my favorite reminders during difficult times is Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

So choose gratitude in every season - in abundance and in need, in joy and in sorrow. A grateful heart honors God and keeps you anchored in His faithfulness.

When we take a moment to slow down and truly look around, we realize just how much we have to be grateful for. Begin with the simple gifts like the people who love you, the roof that shelters you, the meals that nourish you, and the countless ways your heavenly Father watches over you every single day.

If you'd like to dive deeper into having a grateful heart, I have a Bible Study entitled: “The Importance of Having a Grateful Heart.” Click here to go to the Blog Post and request a copy of the study.

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Take a moment to reflect on the blessings in your life… there are far more than you realize. And God is present in every single one of them.

Gratitude is a choice - and it’s the right choice. Choose gratitude today, and let it change the way you see your life and the God who loves you.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for every blessing You have placed in my life, both the ones I see and the countless ones I overlook. Teach me to live each day with a grateful heart.

Help me to recognize Your goodness in every season and to choose thankfulness even when life feels difficult.

Lord, please shift my focus from what I lack to all that You have already given. Fill my heart with peace, joy, and contentment as I grow in gratitude. May my words, my thoughts, and my actions reflect a heart that is thankful to You.

Draw me closer to You, Lord, and help me walk in humility, obedience, and trust. Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your love, and Your never-ending grace.

In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Blessings,

Amy