It is customary that when we speak of Easter, the bible verses that instantly come to mind are those, which pertain to death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But since Easter is about the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, I celebrate it with bible verses about gratitude.
Gratitude is a spiritual practice I believe should be central to Easter celebration.
Firstly, there is nothing to be ungrateful about a God who died so that humanity can live. Period.
Secondly, gratitude is an impetus to other values like courage, contentment and joy, which are essential to Christian living. I cannot think of any better way to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection than to live with courage, contentment and joy out of gratitude for what he did.
Lastly, gratitude provides a person enough vigor to persevere during tough times. For me, this is the other message of Easter: resilience. If a God could endure so much pain for someone like me, why couldn’t I? After all, I will not be nailed on the cross for the sins of others. I will just traverse the normal course of life, and gratitude will make the journey bearable.
Below are six of my favorite bible verses for Easter. If you are wondering how they made to my list, read on.
I.) Bible verses for awe-triggered gratitude
…“Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” –2 Sam. 7:18
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know It.” –Psalm 139:14
The aforementioned verses from Psalm and 2 Samuel are what I call appetizers. They set the mood for gratitude. That luscious awe in God’s greatness feeds the spirit of gratitude in me. Whenever I have a steady supply of amazement, gratitude overflows.
In cases that I am overwhelmed by a situation, I will internalize the said two verses, and in a while, I am back to my senses: inspired, focused, determined. God did astounding advances in my life, and I know I could not thank him enough for that.
II.) Bible verses for unwavering gratitude
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” –1 Thess. 5:18
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” –Phil. 4:6
After the appetizers, I’ll savor the entrees. In my spiritual life, these entrees are capsulated in the form of unwavering gratitude. The kind of thankfulness, which is characterized by consistency and independence from what I have, and I do not have. I am just thankful. These verses in Thessalonians and Philippians never fail to keep me on track. They foster joy regardless of the situation.
III.) Bible verses for gratitude-inspired lifestyle
“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” –Romans 14:17
“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.” -Isaiah 50:7
After the entrees, I’ll have my dessert. Gratitude-inspired lifestyle is like a concluding meal: sweet and it always goes after the appetizers and entrées (awe in God and resilience). I do not think any Christian can foster a lifestyle of peace, goodness, grace, courage and joy without being in awe of God first and then being able to make that reverence work, especially, on trying times. Those verses in Romans and Isaiah inspire me to live a life I know is harmonious with Easter celebration. Happy Easter, everyone!
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