12 Thanksgiving Prayer Points With Scriptures to Guide You

Another gray sky greeted us this morning.  Pulling out my Bible for encouragement, I began thanking God for his goodness as I prayed.  In the process, God lifted my head and encouraged my heart.  If this kind of prayer sounds refreshing, I invite you to join me as we explore 12 thanksgiving prayer points with Scriptures to guide us.

Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you connect with God and cultivate gratitude.

 Thanksgiving Prayer Points With Scriptures

As I looked out the window and prayed, I saw the rainy day through a different lens.  Instead of complaining, I gave thanks for the rain and the opportunity to catch up inside the house.

Using the Bible to guide my prayers helped me focus on Christ instead of focusing on my circumstances.  As a result, I felt encouraged and enlivened.

Below, you will find 12 thanksgiving prayer points with Scriptures to guide your prayers.  I encourage you to lift these prayers before the King of kings today.

12 Thanksgiving Prayer Points With Scriptures

1. Thank God for his love even if your circumstances are difficult.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV

This verse teaches us that giving thanks is God’s will for us.  God wants us to be thankful because he knows that gratitude changes the way our minds work and fills us with joy.

Let’s pray: “Father, thank you for being faithful to us in all situations.  Even when life is difficult, you are working for good in our lives.  Help us to grow in trust as we lean into your presence amid life’s storms.  Thank you for the promise that you will never leave us.”

2. Thank God for the opportunity to join him in what he is doing today.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

We are to do everything with grateful hearts.  This truth changes the way we approach our daily work and reminds us to keep giving thanks at all times.

Let’s pray: “Dear God, thank you for inviting us to join you in what you are doing in the world around us.  Please open our eyes to see where you are working and open our hearts so that we overflow with your compassion for others.  Empower us to put our whole hearts into everything we undertake for the glory of your name.”

3. Thank God for hearing your prayers and calming your heart.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Do you feel anxious or worried today?  God wants you to bring your cares and concerns to him.  He also wants you to approach him with a thankful heart.  You can trust that he is working for your good.

Let’s pray: “Father, we thank you for your goodness.  Thank you for caring about us so deeply.  We come to you today and cast our worries and cares on you.  Please lift the stress and anxiety we feel as we turn toward you for comfort.  Most of all, thank you for being with us and promising to carry us through life’s troubling times.”

More Thanksgiving Prayer Points With Scriptures

4. Thank God for being good even when we don’t understand his ways.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

Are you having a hard time finding something for which to give thanks?

When we cannot find a reason to thank God amid difficult circumstances, we can always thank him for being good.  God’s love will never leave us, and God is always good.

Let’s pray: “God, we thank you that we can trust you even when we don’t understand your ways.  We know that your thoughts and ways are higher than ours.  Please help us lift our eyes to you as we press forward in trust.  You are good.  Thank you that your love can never be taken away from us.”

More Thanksgiving Prayer Points With Scriptures

5. Thank God that everything good in your life is a gift from him.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

I’ll never forget the first time this verse touched my heart.  I realized that every single good thing in my life is from God.

Suddenly, I saw my life in a new light.

I realized that everything from sunny days to smiles from strangers were gifts from God.  I began keeping track of God’s blessings, and there were too many to count.

Let’s pray: “Dear Lord, thank you for the many blessings in my life.  Please forgive me for overlooking these gifts and overlooking your goodness.  Today, I thank you for the following blessings:____________(name as many blessings as you can).”

6. Thank God for the glory of his created world.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6

One of the reasons I love going to the woods is because the forest seems to praise God.  From songbirds to hemlock trees, everything was created by God for his glory.

God wants us to live lives of gratitude and praise, too.

Let’s pray: “Heavenly Father, you created everything from the clouds to the oceans.  We stand in awe of your creative work.  Thank you for creating us to join you in your work on this earth.  We join with all creation as we praise you today!”

7.  Thank God for being your strength and shield.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7

Do you need God’s strength today?

Do you need protection or refuge in a storm you are facing?

Thank God for being your source of strength and your shield.  He wants you to turn to him for safety and provision today.

Let’s pray: “God, thank you for being my source of strength and my shield.  You are my refuge in difficult times and my shelter in life’s storms.  I press into you today and find rest.  Thank you for your presence and your love in my life.”

8.  Offer God your whole heart as you praise him with thanksgiving.

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:12

God is pleased when we praise him with our whole hearts.

Our praise gives him glory and holds the power to lift our heads in the process.

Let’s pray: “Father God, you are our all-in-all.  We praise you with our whole hearts today!  We lift up every fiber of our beings and offer thanksgiving to you.  May we live to give you glory!”

9. Thank God that your joy is found in him, not in your circumstances.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

It has often been said that happiness is dependent upon what is happening around us, and joy comes from deep within, unshaken by difficult circumstances.  This kind of joy comes from God alone.

God wants to fill our hearts with joy regardless of our circumstances.  Ask God to fill you with his joy so that you might walk in it regardless of what you are facing.

Let’s pray: “Lord, thank you that you are our source of never-ending, never-failing joy.  We admit that it’s easy to become discouraged when our circumstances are difficult.  Help us find our joy in you regardless of what is happening around us.”

10. Thank God that he is using every difficult situation in your life to help you grow.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

Considering it joy when life gets tough doesn’t come easily to most of us.  Yet when we learn how to be joyful in challenging times, this joy carries us forward.

We can be joyful in difficult times because God uses adversity to help us become more mature and complete.  Ask God to help you shift to joy when life is challenging.

Let’s pray: “God, thank you for your promise that you can work all things for good for those who love you.  We understand that your idea of what is good is often different than our idea.  Your idea of ‘goodness’ is that trials will mold us to look more like Jesus.  Father, help us surrender to this process and trust you.”

11. Thank God that his timing is perfect.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Waiting for God to answer our prayers is rarely a pleasant and joyful process.  When I’m waiting for God to answer a prayer or open a door of opportunity, I ask him to fill my heart with expectant joy.

God is never late.

His timing is often different than our timing, but we can trust that he will answer our prayers in his perfect timing.

Let’s pray: “Lord God, thank you that your timing is perfect.  I confess that I feel uncertain when your timing doesn’t match my expectations.  Please help me learn to wait on you as I grow in trust.”

12. Thank God that his joy is your strength.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

I’d spoken this verse dozens of times when, one autumn afternoon, I suddenly saw it in a new light.  This verse tells us that God’s joy is our strength.  I would expect God’s power, strength, or love to be my strength.  While all of these attributes can give us strength, it’s noteworthy that God’s joy is noted as our source of strength.

For this reason, I aim to connect with God joyfully every morning.

Most mornings, I sit somewhere quiet and imagine Jesus sitting with me, smiling and filling me with his love.  I listen to worship music to help connect with his joy.  I often look out the window and experience the joy I feel when I admire his created world.

Pray for God’s joy to fill you with strength, joy, peace, and power.  This is a prayer he wants to answer.

Let’s pray: “Father, thank you that your joy is my source of strength.  Please help me experience the joy you feel when I turn to you.  I pray that my identity would become so anchored in your joy that I would experience the freedom of Christ in every situation.”

When Giving Thanks Doesn’t Come Easily

Has gratitude ever felt like a sacrifice to you?

It’s not easy to give thanks when life is difficult or frustrating, but God is pleased when we offer gratitude as a sacrifice.

It’s not easy to give thanks when life is difficult or frustrating, but God is pleased when we offer gratitude as a sacrifice. #gratitude #GiveThanks #ThankGod Share on X

Let’s take a few moments to soak in these words together today.  God wants us to overflow with gratitude and cultivate grateful hearts.

Here are seven practical ways to cultivate gratitude no matter what you’re facing.

1. Begin each day by thanking God.

Before your feet hit the floor each morning, thank God for one blessing in your life.

Starting the day with gratitude can set you up for more joy and peace all day long.

2. Make it a habit to give thanks in times of restlessness.

When you’re standing in a long line at the grocery store, find a reason to give thanks.

When you’re stuck in traffic, having a bad day at work, taking your loved one to yet another appointment, or battling to keep your head above water, ask God to help you find a reason to give thanks.

3. At some point every day, thank God for his goodness.

Maybe you can’t find a single reason to give thanks.  At these times, we can always thank God for his goodness to us.

God will never leave you or abandon you.  He won’t fail you—even when it feels like he has.

Make this your story.  Speak it out loud—to yourself and to others.

God will be faithful to you.  You can rest in this promise, and this is always a reason to give thanks.

4. Speak God’s Word out loud, making it your prayer.

Here are some Bible verses to speak and pray when you’re having trouble giving thanks.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV).

This verse teaches us that giving thanks is God’s will for us.  God wants us to be thankful because he knows that gratitude changes the way our minds work and fills us with joy.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17, ESV).

We are to do everything with grateful hearts.  This truth changes the way we approach our daily work and reminds us to keep giving thanks at all times.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, ESV).

God wants you to bring your cares and concerns to him.  He also wants you to approach him with a thankful heart.  You can trust that he is working for your good.

5. Worship God in song.

When we worship God, the act of adoring him naturally lifts our hearts.

Worship cultivates gratitude for the goodness of our God.

6. Be honest about your struggles.

Gratitude is very different from toxic positivity.

Toxic positivity comes across as being fake—declaring that all is well when all is not well.

True gratitude is real about the hard parts of a situation but also grateful for the goodness threaded throughout.

7. Ask God to help you be more grateful.

When gratitude is difficult, we can ask God to help us find reasons to be thankful.

We don’t have to force thankfulness through willpower and self-effort.  This is a work God wants to do in our hearts.  Our role is to draw near to him.

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If these thanksgiving prayer points with Scriptures and practical suggestions encouraged you, I invite you to explore our devotionals and library of free eBooks and devotionals below.  My prayer for you is that you will encounter the goodness of God.

Calling All Parents (and Grandparents)!

As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God.  Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision.  They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love.  You can find all three books here or read more below.

Attention, All Boy Moms (and Dads)!

God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom.  Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world.  I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven!  You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord.  Find this life-changing devotional book here.

Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter

Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion.  I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven.  Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.

Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20.  It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing.  This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start.  Bekah and I will help you right here.

Find Our Family Devotionals Here

Find all three books right here.  They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial!  These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them.  Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.

Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing

God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone.  Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life.  Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here.  (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!

A Free Daily Devotional to Help You Connect With God

I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment.  These pages are your invitation to stop striving in self-effort and let God do what you’ve been unable to do for yourself.  We will create space to let God set us free from fear, worry, stress, shame, besetting sins, and more.  Find it for free here.  I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free.  I invite you to explore the collection right here!