30/06/2025
Book of the Month: Practicing Thankfulness by Sam Crabtree
As we step into the second half of the year, July invites us to pause. The first six months may have brought joys, hardships, or a mix of both and yet here we are. For many, it’s a time to take stock, recalibrate, and move forward with renewed vision. What better companion for this moment than Practicing Thankfulness by Sam Crabtree?
This is not a surface-level reminder to be polite. It’s a deep, biblically anchored call to cultivate a grateful heart, not only when life is pleasant but precisely when it’s not. In an age of complaint, entitlement, and anxiety, Practicing Thankfulness calls us back to the peace and power of a heart centered on God’s goodness.
Practicing Thankfulness is a heartfelt and theologically rich exploration of gratitude—not as a fleeting emotion, but as a foundational discipline for Christian living. Sam Crabtree argues that thankfulness isn’t just good manners or a nice idea; it is a spiritual imperative with life-altering power.
It’s for anyone longing to trade a bitter or indifferent heart for one that’s joyful and alert to God’s grace. Whether you’re a weary parent, a ministry leader, or simply a believer who senses that cynicism is creeping in, this book speaks to you.
Crabtree, a seasoned pastor and speaker, offers this book as both diagnosis and prescription. He sees thanklessness not as a minor issue, but as a spiritual disease that blinds us to God’s presence and suffocates joy. His aim is to awaken readers to how much is at stake and how much is offered, when we commit to gratitude.
The book is conversational but rich in Scripture and pastoral wisdom. Divided into thematic chapters, it builds a compelling case for thankfulness covering its theological roots, practical expressions, its connection to joy, and even obstacles that hinder it. A highlight is the final chapter: “One Hundred Ways to Be Thankful” a creative, down-to-earth list that brings the whole message home.
Crabtree doesn’t treat thankfulness as a warm feeling. He treats it as a pivot, a moral and spiritual turning point upon which the trajectory of our lives swings. He writes, “Gratitude is downright life-pivoting.” This is gratitude not just for blessings, but for trials, for setbacks, even for collapsed bridges—because God is present in all of it.
Key Takeaways
- Gratitude is not optional: it is the mark of the wise and mature.
- Ingratitude is not neutral: it leads to hardness of heart.
- Thankfulness trains us to see God’s hand in all things.
- Practicing thankfulness prepares us to suffer well.
- Gratefulness expands joy, repels envy, and deepens hope.
RECOMMENDATION
Who should read it?
Anyone reflecting on how they want to live the rest of the year. Anyone who feels overwhelmed, unmotivated, or even stuck in negative thinking. Small group leaders, pastors, parents, and especially those going through hard times will find this book an anchor.
How to apply
Start small. Let one chapter per week stir you. Take one idea and practice it. Keep a gratitude journal. Memorize Ephesians 5:20. Try writing thank-you notes again. Use the final chapter’s 100 ideas to build new habits.
Let this book renew your lens not to ignore pain, but to see God’s fingerprints even in it.
Our prayer and hope for the reader
As a new half of the year unfolds, may this book teach you to see what God has already done, and is still doing. We pray that Practicing Thankfulness helps you see grace everywhere, even in unexpected places. May your gratitude grow roots that sustain joy, and bear fruit that lasts.
