Thought for the Week - 7th January 2024

Dear Friends, 

Happy New Year! January is a time when people make new year’s resolutions like giving something up, taking up a new hobby or learning a new skill. You may be familiar with the ‘Thankful January Challenge’, naming something you are thankful for during the 31 days of the first month of the year. We can be thankful for the little things as well as the big things in life, those things we can be grateful for and show our appreciation. The apostle Paul writing to the believers in Thessalonica says, ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). It is a reminder that our joy, prayers and thankfulness doesn’t depend on our circumstances or feelings but on our faithfulness in Jesus Christ. Following these three commands – be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks – often goes against our human nature, and yet when we do make a conscious decision to do what God says, it is then that we discover more and more of God’s mercy and goodness in our lives. So what are you thankful for? Perhaps the next time we see each other, you might like to name one thing that you want to say thank you to God for.

Grace and peace,

Neil

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