My final thought (at least for the time being) on the topic of thankfulness, is going to be just that: my thought.  Despite all the scripture and all the evidence around us illustrating the cost of a lack of thankfulness and the benefits of maintaining a thankful attitude, I was left wondering what deep, spiritual/psychological aspect of a thankful heart makes the action of giving thanks so important - so I reached my own conclusion. 

My opinion is this:  unthankfulness is inward-looking, focused on ourselves.  Thankfulness is outward-looking, in its purest and most accurate form - to God, and also to our fellow man.  In a state of thanks and contentment, looking outward to to God and man, we are freed to begin moving toward loving God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves.  If we are not thankful, our focus is on what we want in an effort to please ourselves.  We certainly aren’t going to look for ways to give substantial help to others - at least not until we get what we want, and our hearts are clearly not set on loving God above all else when our focus is on our desires.

Above all else, we are called to love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourself.  Thankfulness, combined with love, are THE critical “tools” that God has provided to make progression along that path possible.  Without it, I do not beleive that even the first step toward fulfilling that dual command is possible.  And remember, this is a command that was central to the message of Jesus, the Old Testament Law, Paul, and James, repeatedly cited by Jesus as the most important command(s).  I’ve asked many times if literal fulfilliment of that command is possible (I don’t think it is, thank God for grace).  But commitment and progression is required.  I am convinced that true, deep thankfulness will free us from the desires of this world and set us on the path toward meeting the greatest commands.  It is crucial.  We must attain it.  God’s plan is so good.  The very thing we must have to meet His greatest commands is the very thing that makes our burden light and brings peace.

Very good word.  I struggled badly with maintaining a thankful heart in the past (sometimes still have an issue or two).  At times I felt completely stripped down to the question of “Do you believe that the Son of God suffered & died for you?”.  Okay, then you have something wonderful to be thankful for.  I also have been reminded often of the time when Jesus told his disciples not to rejoice that the demons were subject to them in His name, but rejoice that their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.  It’s good to have that unshakable core to be thankful for as a Christian.
    One more thought:  A line from one of my favorite movies is “You’re like the thief who isn’t sorry that he stole, but is very sorry that he is going to jail” (paraphrase?).  I have always felt like that applies to thankfulness in a kind of mirror image way.  Our thankfulness shouldn’t be focused on the “consequences” of God’s goodness & mercy as experienced in our lives, but on the heart, character & wonder in the God who provides.  Not sure if that totally makes sense, but it has helped me sometimes.

Agreed, the core has to be something unshakeable.  I do think we should be thankful for our physical blessings as well. In this country we have so much that we take for granted, and often feel like we have nothing to be thankful for, when we should be thankful for clean water and a roof over our heads, let alone so many other luxuries we enjoy.

It makes sense.  God offers each one of us everything we need, and He also tests each man’s heart.  He knows if we are thankful just for “stuff”, or if we truly choose to thank Him for His awesome gift of salvation, life and Holy Spirit!