1Chron 29:12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

Col 1:3 We always thank God... 4 we have heard of your faith in Messiah Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people  5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6...since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our fellow servant  cf 4:12

1Thess 1:2  thank God for all of you 3  work produced by faith,  labor prompted by love,  endurance inspired by hope in  Lord JC

Col 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will thru all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way:   a) bearing fruit in every good work,    b) growing in the knowledge of God,    11 c) being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience/long-suffering,

12  giving joyful thanks to  Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13.. has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1Thess 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God... 9...put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Js L2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Rm 5:1 having been justified by faith, we have peace with God thru our Lord..2 access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance..4 character..hope. 5 hope does not disappoint..love of God..HS given to us (Eph 1:13 earnest) 8:24 saved in this hope 24 ..we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.28 we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called acc to His purpose

1Pt 1:3 born again to a living hope..4 inheritance..reserved in heaven for you 5 who are kept by the power of God thru faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, thu now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the refining of your  may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Col :21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.

27 glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature/perfect in Christ. 29 strenuously contend with all the energy

Col 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ

Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach & admonish one another with all wisdom..singing with gratitude/grace in your hearts. 17 whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father thru him
3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

Col 4:2 Be diligent/devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful/on guard in it with thanksgiving.
12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, perfect/mature and full/complete. cf 1:7

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:   

1. Why does God command believers to be thankful? What if we're not grateful?
2. In what ways should the thanksgiving of believers be different from that of worldlings? Why was Paul thankful for the growth of others?
3. What does it take to be thankful for things you don't like (or want)? How does discontent harm us? How does thankfulness benefit us?
4. How does having God's perspective on difficulties, and a Biblical hope (Rm 5; Js 1; 1Pt 1) increase our thanksgiving?