In Everything Give Thanks – part 3

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It should be easy to give thanks to God when things are going well, but how can we practice gratitude when times are tough or when we don’t feel grateful? For help, let’s return to our Bible study about giving thanks – how, to whom, when, and why – using 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 as our guide. Please join me for the third day of a five-day Bible study.

Part Three: In Everything

Everyday, we make grocery lists or to-do lists. And by now, your kids have probably already compiled a Christmas gift list! Do you need help compiling a gratitude list? In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the phrase “in everything” is thoroughly inclusive, encompassing each and every part along with the whole. It includes all things, people, events and time. Try the following exercise to expand your gratitude perspective. Grab your Bible and your notebook, and click on the verse references below to get quick access to the Word of truth.

1. After interviewing hundreds of Sunday School children about what they were thankful for, I discovered that their responses fell into five general categories: Jesus, family, toys, my home, and food. This is a pretty thorough list because these categories cover people’s basic needs. Try to identify at least 10 specific things you are thankful for in each category.

  • Jesus (spiritual things) –
  • Family –
  • Toys (good stuff) –
  • My home –
  • Food –

2. As we noted in Part Two, everything includes difficult circumstances as well. As you consider a current trial, remember to thank God not only for the trial, but also look around at the good things that God still gives you and how He is using your trial to bring about good things. Use the verses below to remind you of God’s goodness in trials.

This five-part series, In Everything Give Thanks, will be posted in full by the end of this week. If you would like to access a free download copy of the entire Bible study, please click on these links:

This Bible Study was originally posted in November 2020.

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