Question 1

Why should I give thanks to God?

Accepted Answer

1 Chronicles 16:34Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.We can give thanks to God because he is always good, and he will always love us no matter what we have done. Thanking God for his character helps us more fully appreciate and respect those qualities in him and in others.Genesis 1:31Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.Psalm 19:1The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.We should thank God because he is the creator of every good and beautiful thing in creation.John 11:41-43So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.We can thank God because he hears and answers prayer. Thankfulness doesn’t have to wait until after a prayer is answered. Jesus thanked his Father for hearing his prayer even before Lazarus was raised from the dead. Faith and thankfulness go hand-in-hand in prayer.Habakkuk 3:17-19Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.We should give thanks to God because a spirit of gratitude and praise improves our perspective on life. Complaining connects us to our unhappiness; gratitude and praise connect us to the source of real joy. When we make thanksgiving a regular part of our lives, we stay focused on all God has done and continues to do for us.1 Chronicles 16:8Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.Psalm 111:1-2Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people. How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them.We should thank God as a way to honor him around others and invite them into relationship with him.

Question 2

What can I be thankful for?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 6:31-33“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”We can thank God for providing life’s basic needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, and life itself.Romans 6:23The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.1 Corinthians 15:57Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.We can never thank God enough for Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf!Psalm 13:5-6I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.Psalm 44:7You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us.We can thank God for helping us through our troubles.Proverbs 17:17A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.We can thank God for friendships.Matthew 7:9-11“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”James 1:17Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.We can thank God for everything good in our world and in our lives.John 3:16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”2 Corinthians 5:17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!We can thank God for his gift of salvation, which brings peace with God and allows new beginnings in our lives.Matthew 5:11-12“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”James 1:2-4When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.We can even thank God for adversity, for it is often through our struggles that we grow the most.

Question 3

Why is it important to have a thankful attitude?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 50:23Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.Psalm 92:1It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.Luke 17:16He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done.An attitude of gratitude shows real honor, whether it is offered to God or to others. It also prevents us from expecting others to serve us and allows us to enjoy the blessings that come our way.

Question 4

How do I develop an attitude of thanksgiving in myself and my family?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 9:1I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.Luke 17:16He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.Colossians 2:7Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.A thankful heart grows as we recognize God’s work in our lives. This growth continues as we share with others.Psalm 92:2It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening.Philippians 1:3Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.Colossians 3:15Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.1 Timothy 4:4Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.We can cultivate thankfulness by giving thanks regularly—to God and also to others. Consider setting aside time every day to think about things you are thankful for. Make a mental list of God’s blessings in your life—especially the most recent ones—and thank him for them. Don’t wait to feel thankful before giving thanks. Giving thanks leads to feeling thankful.

Question 5

How can I express my thankfulness?

Accepted Answer

1 Chronicles 16:7On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the Lord.Psalm 9:1-2I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.Psalm 100:4Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.Psalm 104:1Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty.Psalm 147:7Sing out your thanks to the Lord; sing praises to our God with a harp.Psalm 149:1-3Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. . . . Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.Colossians 3:16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.We can thank God with songs and declarations of praise, new and old. Music, singing, and even dancing can be ways to praise and thank God, whether privately or in the community of believers.Psalm 116:17I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.2 Corinthians 9:7-8, 10You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. . . . For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.God has given generously to us. We can thank him through our own joyful generosity, thus honoring his name and caring for people in need.Psalm 119:7As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!Matthew 18:32-33“Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’”Matthew 25:40“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”1 John 4:19We love each other because he loved us first.Our thankfulness to God overflows in the generosity of love and shows when we offer kindness and forgiveness to others. God is so pleased by our imitation of his character that he says it is as though we were offering kindness to Christ himself.

Question 6

When should I give thanks to the Lord?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 92:2It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening.Opening and closing our days by reminding ourselves of God’s goodness is a powerful way to build a spirit of thankfulness in our hearts.Colossians 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.Whenever we pray, we should give thanks.Matthew 15:36Then he [Jesus] took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.1 Timothy 4:3-4They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.Thanking God for our food reminds us of his care for our daily needs.Colossians 3:15Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.1 Thessalonians 5:18Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.The truth is, we should always be thankful. When life seems to fall apart, we should never sink into bitterness or ingratitude. God is always at work, and we can be thankful for the good he has promised us.

Question 7

What can I thank God for in difficult times?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 50:19-20Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”2 Chronicles 32:7“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side!”Life can be difficult for many reasons. We may experience the consequences of our own sin; we may suffer because of someone else’s sin; we may be caught in circumstances that are no one’s fault but are nonetheless unfortunate. In any of these tough circumstances, there is a reason to thank God. He promises to help us through tough times, and he redeems our mistakes, teaches us wisdom through adversity, and brings salvation even out of profound tragedy. A God who redeems all trouble is a God worthy of our praise and thanksgiving.1 Chronicles 16:34Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.Psalm 7:17I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.Psalm 138:2I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.1 Corinthians 15:57Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.2 Corinthians 9:15Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!Ephesians 2:8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.1 Timothy 1:12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him.1 Thessalonians 5:18Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.We can thank God for being good and just, and we can thank him for his unchanging, perfect character. We can thank him for keeping his promises. We can thank him also for his mercy, for his faithfulness, and for his love for us. Most of all, we can thank him for sending his Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins so we can live eternally with him.