Our national day of Thanksgiving is approaching. Perhaps in light of the difficulty of this past year you may think that giving thanks will not be so much a part of your holiday. You might be like the people Moses addressed in Deuteronomy 2:7. They had been through decades of challenging times. About the only thing many of them might have been thankful for was that the tough times were about to end. Yet, looking back, Moses could see four reasons for all of them to be grateful, four divine motivations for thanksgiving. As we consider these, I think you’ll discover some, if not all, will motivate you to give thanks.

The advice given to an ancient King found in the book of Proverbs serves as a simple three step approach each of us can take to confront the injustice many in our nation are still facing.

One of Paul’s prayer requests seems surprisingly appropriate for our area this year. It is one I’d like to suggest we pray regularly throughout the coming year. It’s a big prayer, a God-sized prayer, but one Paul was certain God could answer if people prayed. Will you join me in regularly praying this prayer this year?