Jumpstarting Thankfulness

Ways to Thank God When You're Not Feeling Thankful

Adapted From Timothy Keller, Prayer

For the ways God gives and sustains my physical life

  • For making me in His image - capable of knowing, loving, serving, enjoying him and other relationships

  • For bringing me through injuries and illnesses so that I'm alive today

  • For the supports and comforts that make my life enjoyable, pleasant, and bearable

  • For the successes I've received

  • For the goals I've met

  • For the blessings I wasn't wise enough or capable of achieving but He sent me anyway

For the ways God gives and sustains my spiritual life

  • For God's plan of salvation for me

  • For Jesus coming to earth

  • For Jesus' teaching and character that give me an example of holiness

  • For Jesus' death on my behalf, paying for my sins, fulfilling all of God's requirements, and bringing me into a new relationship with God through grace

  • For the Holy Spirit's power and presence in my life enabling me to understand God's truth

  • For the Holy Spirit allowing me to know God's love and glory

  • For the Holy Spirit conforming me to Christ's character

  • For the Holy Spirit's gifts in my life empowering me to serve others

  • For the Word of God's wisdom, truth, and power

  • For my church congregation and leaders who have helped shape and form me and helped me grow in faith, hope, and love

  • For my Christian friends who encourage me, challenge me, pray for me, and support me in my faith

  • For the hope of future resurrection with Christ and living with Him forever

  • For being able to know that, no matter what, everything will be all right

For the particular ways God has shown me His mercy

  • For the ways He has been patient with me

  • For the ways He has helped me change and break bad habits and patterns of thought, heart attitude, and practice

  • For the ways He has protected me from the fuller consequences of my own foolishness and sin

  • For the ways He has revealed Himself in relationship to me through His Word, prayer, and relationships with other believers

  • For the ways He has answered my prayers

  • For the ways He has walked with me through pain and suffering