Living a Life of Gratitude: Embracing Thanksliving

Renee Wixon
Nov 28, 2025
6 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Living a life of gratitude, or "Thanksliving," is one of the most powerful things I can do for myself and my kids. Gratitude is deeply connected to wisdom and true success.

Gratitude means being thankful. It’s about counting your blessings, noticing the beauty around you, and acknowledging everything you receive. Living a life of gratitude shifts my focus from what I lack to what I have. To be grateful doesn’t mean everything in my life is perfect. It simply means I recognize and appreciate the blessings I have. Practicing gratitude is a transformative way of life.

Our gratefulness ultimately points to God, but it overflows to everyone around us. Like water breaking over a dam, gratitude floods out and soaks through to our families and anyone else in our path.

The Bible is full of praise and worship to God. Many verses encourage us to be thankful, regardless of our circumstances. God promises us peace and joy when we live a life of prayer and thankfulness. On the flip side, thanklessness is a form of pride and is "anti-truth." Ungratefulness can hinder our deep relationship with God.

I love it when science confirms God's truth. Research shows that gratitude makes us healthier and happier. Gratitude improves:

Physical Health

Grateful people tend to be physically healthier. They take better care of themselves, exercise more, and often live longer. Those who practice gratitude before bed sleep better and longer.

Psychological Health and Mental Strength

Being grateful is linked to higher self-esteem and self-respect. Grateful individuals are happier and experience significantly less depression and stress. They are more alert, enthusiastic, creative, determined, energetic, and optimistic than those who are not grateful. They also tend to be more emotionally resilient, able to endure tough circumstances.

Relationships

Showing appreciation helps deepen relationships. Acknowledging others, writing thank-you notes, and expressing gratitude makes people more receptive to friendship. Gratefulness fosters sensitivity and empathy towards others' needs while reducing aggression and violence.

How Do You Begin?

There are many strategies to become a more grateful person. I start by simply asking God to help me be more mindful and thankful.

Start Small and Be Mindful

Notice and appreciate each day's gifts. We often take what we have for granted—sight, food, clothing, relationships, etc. Imagine losing those things and think about how you would feel to get them back.

Understand Gratitude as a Choice

Gratefulness and thankfulness are choices we make. In every situation, we have a choice in our response.

Use Gratitude to Gain Perspective

Reframe tough situations as learning experiences. Ask yourself, "What is good about this situation?" and "What can I learn or benefit from it?"

Fast from Negativity

Take a break from gossip, criticism, and complaining. Instead, choose to focus on the good aspects of a person or situation. When negative thoughts arise, replace them with grateful ones.

Keep a Gratitude Journal

Each day, write down three to ten things you are grateful for. This practice can help shift your mindset.

Acknowledge Others

Make it a habit to thank and acknowledge those around you. A simple "thank you" can go a long way.

Once I begin to live a life of Thanksliving, I start to appreciate simple pleasures and things I’ve taken for granted. It helps me see the good in tough circumstances and teaches my kids to maintain a positive, affirming attitude.

Bible Verses about Developing a Habit of Thankfulness

Here are some verses that inspire gratitude:

Colossians 1:12: And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Colossians 2:7: Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 3:15: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 4:2: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Hebrews 13:15: Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Psalm 7:15: I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
Psalm 9:1: I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 28:7: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 86:12: I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 147:7: Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to God on the harp.
Romans 1:20-21: For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Psalm 100:4-5: Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Romans 5:3-5: Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Questions That Can Help You Develop a Thanksliving Lifestyle

Reflecting on these questions can guide you in your journey toward gratitude:

What are three things I am grateful for today?
How can I express my gratitude to others?
In what ways can I reframe my challenges into opportunities for growth?

Embracing gratitude is a journey. Let’s take it together, one thankful step at a time!

Bible Verses about Developing a Habit of Thankfulness

Colossians 1:12: And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Colossians 2:7: Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 3:15: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of once body, you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 4:2: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Hebrews 13:15: Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

Psalm 7:15: I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 9:1: I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 28:7: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 86:12: I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Philippians 4:6–7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 147:7: Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to God on the harp.

Romans 1:20–21: For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Psalm 100:4–5: Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18: Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:3–5: Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.