Discover why gratitude matters and how Psalm 92 invites us to start and end each day with thanksgiving. Simple daily rhythms to cultivate joy and peace.
If we’re honest, gratitude doesn’t always come naturally. We want to give thanks, but some days we’re distracted, disappointed, overwhelmed, or simply tired. Our intentions are good—but the struggle is real.
So why does gratitude matter—especially on the ordinary or difficult days?
Because gratitude shifts our perspective. It reorients our hearts toward God’s goodness and makes space for joy, peace, and hope—even when life feels uncertain or unfinished.
Habit of Hope for Today:
Start and end your day with gratitude.
This is more than a positive thinking practice. It’s a deeply spiritual rhythm grounded in Scripture and strengthened through repetition.
In this post, you’ll learn:
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Why God calls us to give thanks (and why it’s good for us).
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How gratitude reshapes your thoughts and emotional patterns.
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Practical gratitude habits you can start today.
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A reflection tool to help you cultivate joy in everyday life.
What Does Scripture Teach About Why Gratitude Matters?
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to proclaim his unfailing love in the morning and his faithfulness at night.”
— Psalm 92:1–2, NLT
This passage gives us a simple, beautiful model for gratitude:
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Morning: Remember His unfailing love → begin your day grounded in grace.
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Evening: Remember His faithfulness → end your day anchored in trust.
Gratitude is not merely a suggestion—it’s an invitation to align our hearts with the unchanging character of God.
And God invites us to gratitude because He knows what it does inside us:
Gratitude is a form of worship that leads us to gladness.
When we recall what God has done, is doing, and will do—we cultivate joy that is not dependent on circumstances.
How Does Gratitude Shape Our Perspective?
Sometimes we think gratitude means ignoring the hard things. But gratitude doesn’t pretend everything is perfect. It helps us see God’s presence in the middle of the mess.
As Larissa shared in our conversation, gratitude taught her to stop rehearsing what was wrong and begin noticing what was good, true, and evidence of God’s love at work. Even during her husband’s battle with cancer—and later, in widowhood—gratitude didn’t erase grief, but it helped her see beauty and blessing in the midst of it.
Gratitude reframes our internal story.
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Complaining drains us.
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Gratitude strengthens us.
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Complaining magnifies problems.
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Gratitude magnifies God’s provision.
Gratitude is the difference between being controlled by our circumstances and being renewed by God’s presence in them.
Why Gratitude Matters for Emotional & Spiritual Health
Psalm 92 continues:
“For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your work; at the works of Your hands, I sing for joy.” (v. 4)
Notice the movement:
We give thanks.
God makes us glad.
That gladness overflows into praise.
Gratitude is transformative because it reorients our whole life with God. It fuels worship by shifting our focus from ourselves to who God is and what He’s done. It cultivates gladness, softening a heavy heart and lifting our spirit as we notice His work. It clarifies perspective, helping us see what God is doing instead of only what’s missing. And it builds resilience, strengthening us to endure hard things with steady hope and trust in Christ.
How to Practice Christian Gratitude in Daily Life
It doesn’t have to be big or impressive. In fact, the smaller and more ordinary, the better—because this practice trains your heart to notice the everyday blessings we often overlook.
Try one of these:
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Morning: Thank God for one expression of His love.
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Evening: Name one way He was faithful that day.
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Out loud gratitude: Tell someone, “I’m thankful for you.”
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Written gratitude: Write one blessing in a journal.
If you want to build the habit more intentionally, try habit stacking (Episode 21):
Attach gratitude to a routine you already do daily.
For example:
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When you make coffee → thank God for His provision.
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When you brush your teeth → recall one answered prayer.
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When you end your day → speak one thing you’re grateful for.
Small things, repeated consistently, grow spiritual strength over time.
A Simple Tool: The “Looking Forward To” List
One of the most meaningful gratitude practices Larissa has been using recently is something the Lord gently gave her during a particularly tough stretch—not at the beginning of her gratitude journey, but right in the middle of it.
Even after years of practicing daily thanksgiving, she found herself needing a fresh way to recognize God’s goodness when the days felt heavy. That’s when the “Looking Forward To” List was born.
Here’s how it works:
Each evening, before going to bed, simply write down 1–3 things you are looking forward to tomorrow. These can be simple or meaningful—anything that sparks joy, hope, or even quiet anticipation:
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Meeting a friend for lunch
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A conversation with someone you love
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A walk outside
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Time in Scripture
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Making your favorite cup of tea
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Hearing from someone who makes you smile
It doesn’t have to be big or impressive. In fact, the smaller and more ordinary, the better—because this practice trains your heart to notice joy in the everyday blessings we often overlook.
This is especially powerful when life feels heavy or overwhelming.
It gives the heart something to reach toward.
Here’s the beautiful bonus:
At the end of the next day, your “Looking Forward To” List becomes your gratitude list.
What you anticipated becomes what you give thanks for.
Over time, this practice quietly shifts your internal soundtrack from:
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“Nothing good is happening,”
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“God is here, He is working, and there is beauty in my life today.”
And it doesn’t have to stop with tomorrow.
You can make:
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A weekly Looking Forward To list
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A monthly list
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Or even a quarterly or yearly list of joys, events, rhythms, and simple delights to anticipate
This creates space for hope to grow—especially in seasons when the future feels uncertain or the present feels heavy.
“Gratitude doesn’t erase the hard. It reveals God’s hand right in the middle of it.”
This practice becomes a gentle, steady reminder: there is always something to look forward to, because God is always with us.
How to Reflect and Practice Daily Gratitude
Before we rush into the next task or the next day, it’s powerful to pause and let what we’ve learned sink in. These questions can help you slow your heart, pay attention to God’s presence, and name the gifts already in your life:
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What is one way God showed His love to me this morning?
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Where did I see His faithfulness today, even in a small or quiet way?
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What is something I have been complaining about that I can reframe with gratitude?
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What blessing am I overlooking because it feels ordinary or familiar?
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Who can I thank today—out loud—for their presence, kindness, or influence?
Take a moment to sit with your answers. Gratitude grows when we pay attention—and God meets us in the noticing.
Gratitude Becomes the Soundtrack of a Hope-Filled Life
Gratitude doesn’t erase the hard parts of life—but it does change how we walk through them. As we’ve seen in Psalm 92, giving thanks reorients our hearts toward God’s steady love in the morning and His faithful presence at night. It creates a holy rhythm—one that steadies us when life feels overwhelming and reminds us that we are held.
This is why Larissa’s pastor described gratitude as “the soundtrack of a Christ-centered life.” And it’s why John Acuff’s idea of internal soundtracks matters for our spiritual formation. We all have thoughts that play on repeat. Gratitude gives us a way to change the track—from worry to worship, from scarcity to abundance, from exhaustion to rest in Christ.
Gratitude is not pretending life is easy.
It’s recognizing that God is with us in all of it.
As you begin and end your day with thanks—as you notice blessings both ordinary and extraordinary—your heart will slowly attune to the presence of God in every season. Gratitude grows. It deepens. It reshapes how you see yourself, your circumstances, and your God.
So let’s practice together.
Let’s choose to notice.
Let’s choose to remember.
Let’s choose to give thanks.
And may the song that rises in your heart be one of grace, gladness, and hope.
FAQ
Q: Why gratitude matters even when life is hard?
Because gratitude doesn’t deny pain—it helps us recognize God’s presence within it.
Q: What are the benefits of gratitude for spiritual growth?
Gratitude softens the heart, strengthens trust, and shifts our focus from scarcity to abundance in Christ.
Q: How do I start a Christian gratitude practice if I struggle with negativity?
Start small. Thank God for one thing in the morning and one thing before bed. Consistency matters more than quantity.
About Ginger
Ginger Harrington is the author of Holy in the Moment and host of the Habits of Hope Podcast, helping women cultivate a deeper life with Christ through practical rhythms of faith, hope, and emotional peace. Connect at gingerharrington.com.
About Larissa (Gr8tful Chick)
Larissa Traquair—known as Gr8tful Chick—is a speaker, encourager, and co-host of the Habits of Hope Podcast. She is passionate about helping women cultivate joy and gratitude in the everyday moments of life.
After walking through her husband Bill’s battle with cancer and her journey of widowhood, Larissa has experienced firsthand that gratitude doesn’t remove the hard—it helps reveal God’s presence through it. Her gentle, practical wisdom helps others build a Christ-centered mindset and live with a grateful heart, one day at a time.
Connect with Larissa:
Instagram: @gr8tfulchick | Website: gr8tfulchick.com
So glad you're here. I help busy women—gals like you— build healthy habits for living well with biblical wisdom and practical steps to deepen your faith, increase your hope, and thrive in your purpose.
