Thankful Thursday

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

I first am thankful for a new year. To me, a new year represents so many different things. A new year with a new outlook on life, a new year to spend with my family, a new start with new attitudes, a new year with new adventures and new friendships and new opportunites. And, yes... even another year older. :)

I also try to look at it as another year with a brand new opportunity to grow and to become a better me, a better wife, a better mommy, a better daughter, a better child of God. As we've crossed into 2009 I've thought alot about new beginnings. We're given a new life in Christ when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. We celebrate this new life each year with Christmas when we celebrate His earthly birth and then celebrate the new life we are given at Easter when we focus on Christ's death and then resurrection. My prayer for this new year is that as I experience all the "new" that I would never lose focus on this most precious gift we were given thru the birth, the death and the resurrection of Christ.

At the beginning of this post is the scripture Hebrews 4:16. Isn't this a great verse? And, yes, the 2nd thing for which I am thankful for this week. I am thankful that I can approach God with confidence. That I can come before Him KNOWING that He is there, He is listening, He cares, He loves, He hears every single word I pray and feel. I can be confident of all of this and know that He has a plan and He is faithful in showing me that plan and leading me towards it if I will only listen.

This verse seems to have come before me many, many times over the last month or so.... in books I have been reading (even in one secular fiction book I have been reading), in blogs I have read, in one sermon at church, etc. A couple of weeks ago it finally occurred to me that God was probably trying to tell me something (yea... I'm a little slow sometimes :) ). I am going to make this my "scripture for this year". I am going to strive to always go to God with great confidence. Confidence in knowing He is there and He is listening and that He does provide all the grace and all the mercy I will ever need.

For more Thankful Thursday visit Iris at Grace Alone...!