I hope that the first week of 2012 has brought some good things for each one reading this article. However, I know that many of us have faced or will face challenges and difficulties of various types in the coming year. The important thing for all of us to remember is to be thankful for God’s blessings and seek His direction and help for the challenges and difficulties we face. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Our requests need to be made in faith as Jesus also instructs in Matthew 21:22, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” These scriptures and many others tell us that God is pleased when we ask for His assistance in accordance with His will. He also is pleased when we thank Him for His blessings in our lives. Many of the Psalms speak of giving thanks to God, like Psalm 69:30, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” And Ephesians 5:20 instructs us to give thanks to God in the same way we petition Him, through our Lord Jesus Christ, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The important thing for us to remember is to keep praying – regularly, reverently, and sincerely!

Brother Mitch Glasscock

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