Zechariah 8:15

…”so I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Don’t be afraid.”

God had allowed Jerusalem to go into captivity because she turned away from Him. There remained a remnant, however, that was still faithful to God and whose hearts were still turned toward Him. In Verse 2, God stated that He was extremely jealous with wrath for Zion. He wanted Jerusalem to want to worship Him and Him alone. He wanted her heart for His very own.

God wants the same from us today. When our hearts are turned completely to Him, we can trust Him to care for us. Many intel agents and law enforcement officials are warning of potential terrorist attacks, and doom-sayers are expecting everything from economic collapse to natural disasters in the form of God’s judgment. I can’t tell you what our near future holds, but I can point you to the One who holds the future. God is jealous for His people with wrath, but He has resolved to do good toward His people – toward those whose hearts are fully turned to Him.

If your heart is turned fully toward God today, don’t be afraid. You were not appointed for wrath. God will be good to His children, and the world will know we belong to God. He reserves a remnant for Himself that displays His glory and draws people and nations to Him. He is extremely jealous for you, and He will be good to you. Verses 16-17 tell us what He requires:

These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; render honest and peaceful judgments in your gates. Do not plot evil in your heats against your neighbor, and do not love perjury, for I hate all this.” – the LORD’s declaration.

Be jealous for God today. Don’t let anything or anyone else stand between you and Him. Guard your relationship with Him tightly, and He will care for you. Others will see and know you belong to Him.

Have a blessed day!

Luke 2:20

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

The shepherds went back to their fields and their lives as changed men. The dullness and boredom of their ordinary routine caved to shouts of glory and praise to God. We don’t know what happened to these men afterward, but their experience left them feeling joyous and blessed. They had learned to take God at His word and that when you least expect it, you can experience a blessing so great that it takes your breath away.

God is always working in our lives, even when we can’t see Him, hear Him, or feel Him. At some point, He will alert you to what He has been doing, and you can choose to go where He tells you or remain where you are in disbelief. God will not lie to you or set you up for false hope and disappointment. He is doing something praiseworthy in your life that you don’t want to miss. Your experience with Him will reveal God’s glory and draw you to praise. Your alternative is to remain in your dullness and nothingness and wish something would happen.

Believe God’s word to you and act on it. Praise Him for the miracles you have already experienced. Know that He is working in the midst of your nothingness. 

Have a blessed day!

Luke 2:10-12

But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”

The angel had news of great joy for everyone, but the shepherds heard it first! They even received direction of where to find the baby and a description so they would recognize Him. Would they be faithful to search for Him? Would they spread the news?

Jesus certainly came for all people in the world, but not everyone finds Him. Those of us who have been given the privilege of clear direction and understanding need to lead others to Him. While we may never encounter a personal visit from an angel in this lifetime, we can certainly experience the presence of Jesus and spread the news of His coming. 

Who in your life needs to know about the miracle of Christ? Who is still working in the dark and needing hope? The angel intended for the shepherds to spread the news, and God intends for His children to do the same. Don’t be afraid to share the good news of great joy that Christ has come into the world.  While some may not believe you, others are desperately looking for a glimmer of hope. Jesus is more than just a glimmer. He is our blessed hope and our sure salvation!

Have a blessed day!

Luke 2:13-14

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! 

The angel was not alone in his proclamation to the shepherds. A heavenly host appeared with him, bearing witness to God’s word. When God speaks to us, He often gives other witnesses to His word to us. We might read it in Scripture and later hear a sermon preached on that very thing. We may hear the same verse repeated elsewhere during the day. A friend may say something that confirms what we read earlier. God bears witness to His word in many ways, but in this instance, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel to praise God. This was a message the shepherds could not deny or forget!  They had to act upon it!

The angels were proclaiming glory to God and peace on earth to people He favors. Indeed, the glory of God will bring peace to those God favors! If we are in Christ, He gives us His peace, and God favors those who are in Christ. In a world where chaos, uncertainty, and extreme wickedness abound, God’s peace and favor are blessings that transform our lives and sustain us through difficult times. How fitting it is that upon the birth of Christ, the angels sang of peace on earth to those God favors!

This peace and favor can be yours today. If you don’t know Christ as Savior, now is the time to start walking in the peace and divine favor of a new life. If you are already a Christian, start speaking His peace to your trying situations, and believe His favor is upon you to do whatever you are called to do.  Peace and favor are part of God’s gift to us in Christ. Don’t trade them for the lesser things of worry and strife. The angels thought they were something to sing about. You should, too!

Have a blessed day!

Matthew 1:20-21

But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. 

God knew Joseph’s pain, and He immediately sent a message to him to reassure him of his decision to marry Mary. God’s plan was never to hurt Joseph but to use him for a greater purpose than he had imagined. What the Holy Spirit conceives in someone else may affect your dreams and plans. Would you be willing to give up your own dreams for the sake of someone else’s? 

Parents often face this question. God was giving Joseph his very first taste of being a husband and a father. In order for our children to fulfill their dreams and purpose in life, we must often sacrifice our own plans or even dreams. God, in turn, does something beautiful in us. He enables us to foster and nourish greatness. I wish every parent could sense this about their own children. 

Maturity is a virtue that is fading from our culture. It comes with selfless acts and consideration of others. As long as we remain a society of selfish, materialistic, emotionally inept individuals, we will never see a purpose or a possibility greater than our own desire. That is a sad world in which to live.  Joseph became a man of purpose when he took a pregnant Mary as his wife. May we all become men and women of purpose, rather than men and women to be pitied.

Have a blessed day!

Luke 1:57-58

Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

The same group that held Elizabeth in shame rejoiced with her when God blessed her with a son. I can completely relate to her! I didn’t marry until I was 34, and everyone – especially family, friends, and neighbors – wondered what was wrong with me. When I finally became engaged, it seemed the whole world rejoiced with me. My own grandmother even said, “Well, she’s old enough!” My singleness was no longer in question, and I could finally be accepted into the world of families and married couples.

Before my son was born, I had three miscarriages. Some believed I was just too old to have a child, and I had waited too long to marry. I’m glad I never listened to them. When my son was born, he was a highly celebrated baby because of the time I had waited. Finally, I had a family. Attitudes changed toward me, and I felt an acceptance I had not previously experienced. Something about God’s divine intervention in a life when everyone else has given up or lost hope brings a celebration and excitement from deep within people that wipes away any social stigma and draws people closer. Elizabeth’s life was changed forever because of God’s plan – the plan He had for her all along.

One moment of God’s favor can change everything! Favor comes from hours spent in His presence. Never underestimate the power of your prayers or even your pain when you give it to God. Worshiping Him when you are hurting is a sacrifice of praise, and He hears it and accepts it. When you can do nothing for yourself, He is able to intervene in a way that draws others to Him. Trust His divine plan for you because it is good – very good!

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 91:9-10

Because you have made the LORD – my refuge, the Most High – your dwelling place, no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent.

Psalm 91 is known as the Psalm of Protection. We pray and recite it in fearful times as a reminder of God’s faithful love toward us. When tragedy strikes, we often wonder why God allowed such a terrible thing to happen and even question whether the words of this psalm will hold true for us. If terrible things happen to good people, how do we know God really will protect us when danger lures close? 

We must realize that we live in a fallen world, and bad things will happen to all. None of us are good, or we wouldn’t need Jesus or the sacrifice He made for us. We must remember His words in John 16:33. “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” Even when tragedy strikes, and it will, we have assurance that in Christ, we will overcome whatever hardship, loss, suffering, or trial this world can throw at us because He is our dwelling place. 

If Christ is our refuge, we have no security in anything else. The devil cannot take Christ from us, but he can take away any idol or false security we have created. If God has called us to a particular place, He will protect us in that place to do what He has purposed. We must trust His calling in us and remember that His word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Dare to claim the promises of Psalm 91, believing in faith that God’s word has power to protect. Make Christ your refuge, and cling closely to Him. He is the only true safe place. The closer you are to Christ, the further you are from the devil and the evil he has planned for you.

Pray for those who are hurting or in danger today. Pray that they will all come to know God as their refuge and dwelling place. The devil comes to kill, to steal, and to destroy, but he cannot touch those who are secure in Christ. 

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 42:16

I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them, and I will not forsake them.

Have you ever just felt lost – like you were in a fog and had no idea where your future was taking you? If so, this verse addresses that sinking feeling and gives hope to those who need to find light at the end of a tunnel. God promises to lead the blind – those who cannot see clearly which way to go –  and to guide them on paths that are unfamiliar.

We must never forget that we belong to a loving and sovereign God who has chosen us. He knows exactly how to get us from Point A to Point B, even when the Points are hidden from us in the dark. He has a plan for us, and He will guide us where we need to be to complete that plan. The best part is that He will never leave us! Forsaking us is NOT a part of that plan, and we will come to sense His presence more as we allow His Holy Spirit to illuminate the dark paths for us and take one baby step at a time as we are led.

Our God goes before us to make the rough places level for us. He knows where we can walk and where we can’t, so He clears the way for us. Rest assured that if you sense God is working in an area where you are not yet able to move, He is leveling out the rough places for you to walk safely through at the appointed time.

You are not forsaken; God is with you. You are not being pushed into some rough and unfamiliar territory; you are being guided by His righteous right hand to safety. God is making your paths straight and lighting your way as you trust Him. He has chosen you and not rejected you. You are His servant, and He will strengthen you, according to Isaiah 41: 9b-10. Look to Him, cling to Him, and listen for Him. On the other side of this wilderness is a Promised Land, and He, alone, can guide you there.

Have a blessed day!

Matthew 2:10-11

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The wise men finally who they’d been seeking – baby Jesus! When they saw Him, they immediately responded with the appropriate reaction – worship. Any time we encounter Jesus, the appropriate response is worship, and we will find ourselves submitting to His greatness. They opened up their treasures and gave them to Him. In times of true worship, we will give our best to Jesus.

What gifts would you give to Jesus in worship? What do you have that could be used greatly in His kingdom? Perhaps, you don’t think you have anything to give, but God has blessed you in some area. He has something He wants you to give completely to Him so it can be used for His glory. This is the season of giving, and there is no better time to commit your God given gifts to Jesus. Begin now to consider the ways that God has gifted you, whether it is teaching, evangelizing, hospitality, service, leadership, administration, etc. Be willing to give your time, your talents, and your calling to Him to use any way He wants. After all, this is His birthday we are celebrating. He deserves our very best!

Have a blessed day!

Matthew 2:13

After they were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.”

God spoke through an angel, yet again, in this story of Jesus’s birth. After 400 years of silence, God began to speak to His people through angels and dreams. His messages were always clear, accurate, and instructional. This message was a warning of impending danger, and Joseph would need to act immediately. God had a purpose in the works, and He was not going to let the Devil destroy His plan to reconcile men to Himself. Expect God to speak to you to protect His work in you against the schemes of the Devil.

God spoke to the wise men to take a different route to avoid Herod, and He gave Joseph instruction to flee to Egypt to avoid Herod’s wrath. God knows the hearts and ambitions of men, and nothing is too powerful for Him. Regardless of how hopeless your situation may be, God knows the end from the beginning and every little detail that threatens you. He is able to protect you from harm, but you must act upon His instructions. When He tells you to move, you had better move!

God is alive and active in your life, and you can expect Him to speak to you regarding the good work He has begun in you. Don’t worry about what might happen or try to predict all the pitfalls. When there is real danger to God’s plan, He will instruct you and provide a way for your success. He may, however, take you into temporary hiding until the danger passes. Be willing to go wherever He sends you, and don’t hold so tightly to your own plans that you jeopardize what God is doing. If Joseph had complained and refused to go to Egypt because it was not convenient for him, he could have placed Jesus in clear and present danger. The safest place on earth is always in the center of God’s will and in the power of His timing.

Have a blessed day!