Advent Devotionals – 12.20.2021 to 12.26.2021
December 20th
Beth Boling
This has been a tough year for me. I’ve had some significant losses.
I want and need to…”Be Still and Know that He is God”.
The popular verse comes from Psalm 46.
This comes from a longer passage of scripture that proclaims the power and security of God.
In verse 10, The Lord speaks in the first person: “ Be Still and Know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
“Be Still”- to be free from noise or turbulence; untroubled. Some of the noise we experience that could be blocking our ability to feel God’s Presence is our own worry. Learning to change our thoughts from worry to trust, may open us to be more able to feel God’s Love.
“Be Still” is also a call for those involved in war to stop fighting!
As Christians we often interpret being still as to be quiet in God’s presence. However, do we need to stop fighting something or eliminate frantic activity, so that we can open ourselves up to His Presence?
***Know that I am God… Know in this instance means to ascertain by seeing and acknowledge, be aware. We know that He is Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent. He is Holy, Sovereign, Faithful, Infinite, and Good. If we understand how He truly is, how can that change our stillness before Him?
When we are still and surrendered to God, we find Peace even when things on earth give way. When life gets overwhelming and busyness takes precedence, we need to run to Him, lay down our weapons, and fall into His Arms.
Lets ‘Be Still and Know that He is God’ in this season!
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December 21st
Sue Kincaid
How Jesus Makes a Difference in My Life
Jesus makes a difference in my life because He is my Savior, my teacher, my guide, and my best friend.
He is the Savior of the entire world, but when I accepted him as my personal Savior, I knew that I would be entering a relationship with him that would never end. Though I am still a sinner, His crucifixion and resurrection has covered all my sins. I am now a part of his family, here on earth and forever in heaven.
Romans 3.23-24 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
He is my teacher through His Word. The Bible as God’s Word has everything I need to navigate life and make decisions. It shows me his character as my role model and his desires and commands for my life, that I may have his blessings, presence, and power in my walk.
John 14.23 “Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’”
Through his Holy Spirit, he is my Guide through all of life. When difficulties come, and my human frailties surface, he guides me to find wholeness and be wholeness for others.
Jesus says in John 16.13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
Finally, he is my best friend even as he is my Lord and far more glorious and powerful than I can imagine. I am never alone. I can talk to him anytime, day or night, and he will hear. In fact, he knows what I am going to say or think before I say or think it. I don’t have to hide anything. He will take and sift it, as dear friends do, and help me see clearly…and encourage and challenge me to become what He created me to be. My role is to trust the outpouring of His friendship and Lordship.
Matt 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore as you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Thank you Jesus for everything. Help me to love and follow you more. Amen
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December 22nd
Jane Miller
In Everything Give Thanks
“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
Jesus impacts my life in every way. From the first breath I take in the morning to my final thought of the day.
I’m grateful to be surrounded by family and church friends that hold me accountable to live a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus. The more I learn the heavier I feel the responsibility of living for Him and not myself. The good news though, is I don’t have to carry my responsibility alone. I’ve got all of you to help me!! You help me to have a fuller life and relationship with Christ.
I try to look for good and praise God for everything. I’m so very thankful for the opportunities Jesus sends my way to help me grow in His service. It makes my day if I can help someone in every the smallest of ways.
My Advent prayer for you is that you can find someone each day to serve. That you can find a friend to hold you accountable. That you live for Him and rejoice always knowing you are His very special child.
Merry Christmas dear friends.
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December 23rd
Nicki Blythe
John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
One of my fondest Christmas memories growing up is receiving Christmas cards in the mail from family and friends throughout the month of December. We would get the mail each day and I always looked forward to who we got a card from. Once opened and read, Mom would display all the cards we had received near the back door, covering the entire side of the pantry with cards made of glitter, Christmas artwork and family pictures. It was a constant reminder that the people we cared for and loved were thinking about us during the holiday season. They just made me smile and feel happy inside! I loved it so much, I make sure that even now with all the technology available, I still send out a personal card from our family. It’s nothing super special. Just a small way for our family to show others that we love them.
God didn’t command us to do grand, extraordinary gestures to show our love for other. He commanded us to do nothing other than LOVE on another. As we continue through this Advent season, I will be taking time to be still and reflect on how I can show God’s love to others now but also all year long.
How can you show love to others in small ways throughout 2022?
Dear Father,
Thank you for loving us and this Advent season. Let us remember why we celebrate and WHO we celebrate. Give us the wisdom to see how we can show God’s love to all of those around us just as you have showed your love to us by sending your Son, Jesus to save us.
Amen
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December 24th
Linda Kron
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light” Luke 11:33
It has been told that a long time ago, a nobleman decided to build a church for the village. After it was built, the villagers agreed it was indeed a beautiful church but they asked “Where are the lamps in the building?” The nobleman smiled. Then he gave each family a lamp. “Each time you are here, the area in which you sit will be lighted. But when you are not here, some part of God’s house will be dark.”
We will soon be celebrating the birth of Jesus. With Jesus’ birth, the world received new light. Through Jesus, as Christians, we are to be a light for others. So let us think and pray about letting our light shine. Let God send us in a new direction today. The world is big, and our lamp may be small, but we can be a light for some small part of our world. We don’t want our part being dark.
Father, I thank you for your son Jesus, who came to teach us and to give us hope and light. Help to guide us to be a light for others. Bless each one of us now, in Jesus’ name. Amen
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December 25th
Jonelle Broshears
The Power and the Gentleness of Jesus
The Lord would speak to Moses, face to face,
as a man speaks with his friend.
Exodus 33:11a
Lord, how does one dare to speak to you–to call upon you?
You are designer above all earthly artists.
You are scientist above all scholarly men.
You are healer above all learned physicians.
Your power is amazing, your knowledge, limitless, your works, wonderful-
but the greatest wonder of all is your nearness and your intimacy.
I have no right to come to you–yet every right, because you bid me come.
You are my creator, my God, yet I whisper the secrets of my soul to you
more easily than to a trusted friend.
You know me; you understand me; and still, you love me.
I ask no greater miracle than this.
Lord, I wanted, long ago, for someone stronger than I
to put their arms around me, to rock me, and to make me feel safe.
It was you that I needed then, and it is you that I need now.
Thank you, Father,
for letting me be as a child again.
I know that soon again
I will need you to be God Almighty,
the source of my strength and my courage.
I will need you to prepare me and sustain me
and to guide me as you have done before.
But thank you now for being Abba.
Thank you for knowing and loving
and taking care of the little child
that I was, and that I am.
I love you.
—
December 26th
Nancy Cox
Proverbs 3:5-6
NIV – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
The New Living Translation – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
This was my parent’s favorite verse. It was included on every card they sent out, birthday, anniversary, Christmas, etc. It has become one of my favorite verses, too. It is my “go to verse” in good times and not so good times. I challenge myself to acknowledge God in everything I do or say on a daily basis. Acknowledge that he is in control and to honor him wholeheartedly – with all my heart.
I thank you Lord for giving me godly parents. Also, for promising if we trust you with all our heart and seek your will that you will make our paths straight.
Amen.