Introduction: Where Life Pivots

Chapter 1: The Rightness of Gratitude
Chapter 2: The Wisdom of Gratitude
Chapter 3: Portrait of a Grateful Heart
Chapter 4: The Fruitfulness of Gratitude
Chapter 5: Dangers of Ingratitude
Chapter 6: Thankfulness in Action
Chapter 7: Thankfulness and Contentment
Chapter 8: Thankfulness and Wonder
Chapter 9: Thankfulness and Suffering
Chapter 10: Hindrances to Thankfulness
Chapter 11: Various Questions about Thankfulness
Chapter 12: One Hundred Ways to Be Thankful

Acknowledged with Thanks
General Index
Scripture Index

“After more than fifty years living as a quadriplegic, I can definitely say that godly gratitude is the key to contentment. It’s why I am so excited about Sam Crabtree’s Practicing Thankfulness. This remarkable work provides thorough biblical support as to how God-focused gratitude alters a Christian’s orientation to himself, to others, and ultimately to the Lord himself. The pages are filled with practical guidelines to help a believer seize every life situation as a powerful opportunity to cultivate a glad and thankful heart. I give Practicing Thankfulness a double thumbs-up!”
Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder and CEO, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

“Christians have much to be thankful for—more than we could possibly imagine. But knowing we should be thankful isn’t the same thing as living a life marked by thankfulness and gratitude. Sam Crabtree provides a helpful and essential book that reminds Christians of what we have received in Christ and in the gospel as well as practical steps to cultivate a thankful heart. We should be thankful for this book.”
R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“As I read Practicing Thankfulness, I was freshly inspired by the beauty, necessity, and power of a grateful lifestyle and found myself thinking, Every believer needs to read this book. Not long ago, my precious husband, Robert, and I were plunged into turbulent waters as he was faced with two back-to-back cancer diagnoses (during a pandemic). Through it all, even in the midst of the most difficult days, gratitude has been a life preserver for our hearts, has transformed our perspective, and has infused us with unexplainable peace and joy. This terrific book will show you how thankfulness can do the same for you.”
Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, author; Founder, Revive Our Hearts and True Woman

“What a spiritually refreshing book this is! Reasoning from dozens of passages of Scripture, and showing substantial theological insight, Sam Crabtree explains blessing after blessing that come from a heart filled with continual thanksgiving, even in hardship. This is the best treatment of thanksgiving I have ever read. Highly recommended!”
Wayne Grudem, Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary

“With theological precision and pastoral wisdom, Sam Crabtree helps us understand why it matters that our hearts are overflowing with thankfulness to God and how we can cultivate this godly grace in our lives. For many of us, this will be the most important book we read this year.”
Bob Lepine, Cohost, FamilyLife Today; Teaching Pastor, Redeemer Community Church, Little Rock, Arkansas

“In the midst of uncertain days we take comfort in the certainty of Christ’s love for us. We have so much to be thankful for! Many of us are asking along with the psalmist: ‘What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?’ The answer to this question is authoritatively inscribed in Psalm 116 and beautifully illustrated here in Practicing Thankfulness. Powerful and practical, this book is an invitation to come and see and enjoy what the Lord has done, lifting up the cup of salvation in response.”
Gloria Furman, author, Labor with Hope and Missional Motherhood

“An attitude of gratitude is always in season. And I want to be around anyone who reminds me of this. Sam Crabtree is that guy. In this book, he has given us a well-crafted, engaging, thoughtful, and most importantly biblical look into thanksgiving (not the holiday, but the Christian virtue and lifestyle). He reminds us that God is great, and so we worship him. God is good, and so we give thanks. Amen! Not many books are solely designed to encourage thankfulness. This is one, and thus deserves your attention and a place on your bookshelf. But before you put it there, read it. It will remind you of the importance of giving thanks to God for everything, beginning with this book.”
Anthony J. Carter, Lead Pastor, East Point Church, East Point, Georgia

“Giving thanks is not theoretical for Sam Crabtree. He knows it. He lives it. And now he’s studied it and labored to put one of his life’s works into these pages for you to enjoy. Those of us who have long known Sam and labored with him in pastoral ministry have seen the message of this book in action. And now we get to go behind the curtain and see more of what makes Sam such an example of Christian gratitude. Neither he nor his fellow pastors will pretend that he’s a perfect example, but in a day in which so many seem to be sinking deeper and deeper into cynicism and ingratitude, Sam is a genuine model and gifted teacher of giving thanks.”
David Mathis, Senior Teacher and Executive Editor, desiringGod.org; Pastor, Cities Church, Saint Paul, Minnesota; author, Habits of Grace

“I thank God for Sam Crabtree. He is a wise and jovial brother who practices what he preaches in this book: he gives thanks in all circumstances. (Don’t miss the last chapter—a creative list of one hundred practical ways to be thankful.)”
Andrew David Naselli, Professor of Systematic Theology and New Testament, Bethlehem College and Seminary; Pastor, the North Church, Mounds View, Minnesota