Tag Archives: devotional

Advent Day 5

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What I’m listening to: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
Welcome to Day 5 of our Advent series! If you’re up to speed, congrats(!), if not, be sure to check out the previous posts. The first one explains a little more about the series. Now, let’s go back to where we last left off in Luke. 

 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

                        Luke 1:38 (NIV) 

Have you ever felt yourself wanting to shirk your God-given responsibilities? Whether that be not wanting to read your Bible, or go on a mission trip, it’s often feels like it would be “better” to just not do something. Here, Mary has been told that she, a girl who isn’t married yet, in ancient times, will become pregnant. She doesn’t tell God that she’ll have to think about it. She doesn’t ask “why me?”. She simply accepts her responsibility. Sometimes when things seem hard, it can be easy to want to give up. However, we must remember that God never gives us more than we can handle. Even if something seems impossible, God will find a way for his will to come to fruition. 

Prayer Prompt: Pray for guidance from the Lord with a responsibility that is weighing on your heart. Remember that you are storing up treasures in Heaven, even if it may seem difficult to do so on Earth. 

Advent Day 4

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What I’m listening to: Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! by Dean Martin

Welcome to day four of our Advent series! If you’re up to speed, congrats! If not, be sure to check out my previous posts for more information. Now, onto today’s post! 

 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin? The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

                   Luke 1:34-37 (NIV)

Sometimes, it’s easy to give up on God. We feel like since what we thought he wanted us to do isn’t working out, he must not be paying attention. Here in Luke however, the Bible tells us that “no word from God will ever fail“. If something isn’t working out the way you thought it would, take the time to step back and really pray about it. If God meant for you to do it, it’ll still be there when you get back. If not, that’s okay, he has a plan for you and your life. Just because it’s not what you might have originally thought of, doesn’t mean it’s not what God originally thought of. 

 Prayer Prompt: Pray that you might discover where the Lord is truly leading your heart.  

Advent Day 3

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What I’m Listening To: Jingle Bells by Frank Sinatra 

Today is Day 3 of our continuing Advent Reading series! If you missed the first two posts, go ahead and check them out, the first one also explains a little more. If you’re all up to speed already, welcome back! Now for today’s devotional. 

 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

                             Luke 1:29-33 (NIV)

As we get closer to Christmas, it’s easy to lose focus of the true meaning. Whether we get caught up in trying to impress Christmas guests, or distracted by desire for all the things we want, it can be easy to forget the true importance of the season. We are reminded here in Luke of the true awesomeness of Jesus. We celebrate his birth, not just for the worldly things we receive, but to remember the humble way that the Son of God entered this world. This Christmas season, instead of focusing on yourself and the things you want, focus instead on the things that Jesus can provide in your life. While you may know your wants, Jesus knows your needs. 

Prayer Prompt: Ask Jesus to guide you towards the things you need, instead of those things that you don’t. 

Advent Day 1

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What I’m listening to: A Marshmallow World by Dean Martin

It’s day one of our Advent Reading Plan! For those of you who don’t follow me on Instagram or Facebook, here’s what’s going on. 

For the next 24 days, I’ll be posting daily devotionals leading up to Christmas. They will use verses that tell the Christmas story from Matthew, Luke, John, and Isaiah. 

So now let’s get started! 

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

                                   John 1:1-5 (NIV) 

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that the Lord anticipates all things. We think that a break-up, hurtful word, or mistake has come out of left field. However, we have to remember that just because we didn’t see it coming, doesn’t mean God didn’t. In the these verses from John, he makes the point that since the beginning of time, God knew that he would send his son to die for our sins. It wasn’t a last minute decision  by a God out of options, it was the carefully  crafted plan of an omniscient Creator. Is it possible to have a more encouraging thought to kick off the Christmas season than knowing that we have an all-powerful God who has loved us so fiercely since the beginning? 

Prayer prompt: Today turn something that has been weighing on your heart over to the Lord and ask Him to show you the path and solution that he has created.