Cultivating Lasting Gratitude in the Christian Life

📅 December 26 Q&A
Contending for the Word
By Dave Jenkins

Question addressed: How can Christians grow in gratitude beyond the holiday season?

Gratitude often comes easily during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Songs are familiar, gatherings are warm, and reminders of God’s goodness feel close at hand. Yet Scripture calls believers to something deeper than seasonal thankfulness. Christians are called to a continual posture of gratitude, one rooted not in circumstances or calendar dates, but in the unchanging character and saving work of God. So how can Christians grow in gratitude beyond the holiday season and carry it into everyday life?

Remember God’s character daily

Gratitude begins with who God is, not how we feel. Psalm 118:1 declares, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” God’s goodness, mercy, faithfulness, and steadfast love do not fluctuate with our emotions or circumstances. When gratitude is anchored in God’s unchanging character, it becomes steady and enduring. Thankfulness grows when believers regularly rehearse who God has revealed Himself to be.

Reflect on the gospel regularly

Nothing fuels lasting gratitude like remembering the gospel. Scripture reminds us that we were dead in sin, yet God made us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1–5). We were enemies of God, yet He reconciled us through the death of His Son (Romans 5:10). We were guilty, yet God justified us freely by His grace (Romans 3:24). If God never gave another earthly blessing, the work of Christ alone would be sufficient reason for eternal thanksgiving. Gratitude deepens as believers keep the cross central.

Practice thanksgiving in prayer

Paul exhorts believers, “In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This command does not minimize suffering or deny pain. Rather, it calls Christians to acknowledge God’s presence, purposes, and faithfulness even in difficulty. A healthy prayer life includes honest lament, humble dependence, and intentional thanksgiving. As thanksgiving becomes a regular part of prayer, the heart is steadily shaped toward gratitude.

Keep a record of God’s faithfulness

Throughout Scripture, God’s people remembered His works through memorials, psalms, and testimony. Forgetfulness is a human weakness, which is why deliberate remembrance is so important. Believers can cultivate gratitude by journaling answered prayers, noting daily blessings, saving Scriptures that have brought encouragement, and sharing testimonies with others. Gratitude grows when God’s goodness is regularly rehearsed.

Guard the heart from grumbling

Grumbling robbed Israel of joy in the wilderness and hardened their hearts toward God. Philippians 2:14 calls believers to do all things without grumbling or disputing. Complaining blinds the heart to God’s kindness. Comparison steals contentment. Bitterness suffocates gratitude. Replacing grumbling with praise transforms how believers view both God and their circumstances.

Surround yourself with thankful believers

Gratitude is contagious. Worshiping alongside thankful Christians strengthens a grateful posture, while constant exposure to complaining fosters discontentment. Hebrews 10:24–25 reminds believers that fellowship shapes spiritual growth, including the growth of gratitude.

Serve others with humility and joy

Serving redirects attention away from self and toward Christ and His people. Gratitude grows as believers give, love, sacrifice, and meet the needs of others. Acts 20:35 reminds us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. A serving heart is often a thankful heart, shaped by the grace it has received.

Train the mind to see God’s gifts in the ordinary

Gratitude is not reserved for extraordinary moments. It is cultivated in everyday mercies such as breath in our lungs, food on the table, the kindness of a friend, the beauty of Scripture, the gift of the church, and the mercy of another morning. James 1:17 reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from above. Learning to recognize God’s hand in ordinary life builds extraordinary gratitude.

Gratitude is not a moment but a lifelong discipline rooted in the goodness of God. As believers step beyond the holiday season, they are called to continue remembering His grace, rehearsing His promises, and rejoicing in His steadfast love. A grateful Christian is a joyful Christian, and a powerful witness to a watching world.

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