December Devotions: Seeing God's Face at Christmastime
Photo by David Hurley
MONDAY
Peace and Hope for the World
Luke 2:14 TPT
Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven!
For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.
God’s heart for you is peace and a good hope. In the middle of work, family obligations, any anxiety, discouragement, or hopelessness—you get to step away from everything causing you stress and sit down with your heavenly Father.
“What are You saying to me right now? Help me to hear Your voice! What do You want my heart to know about You? What is true about my future?”
Christmas is a sign of God’s great love. Focus on Him during this season, and take note of what He introduces to your heart.
Today’s prayer: Father God, I get to be here with You because of Jesus. Thank You for sending Your Son to save me and set me free from darkness. In His holy name, amen.
May your Monday be blessed!
TUESDAY
Extravagant Joy at Christmas
Luke 1:46–47 NLT
Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
It’s human nature to be forgetful. We tend to remember the bad or painful things that happen to us, but the good things? Somehow we easily forget how God showed us care in the past—how He sent us money when we really needed it, how He answered a certain prayer, how He comforted us when we were hurting, how He listened to the deepest desires of our hearts and did something about them.
Take some time to think about these questions:
What has God done for me?
When has He come through for me? What happened?
What am I grateful for?
Remind yourself of the Lord’s goodness in your life! Fill your soul with praise and rejoicing.
Today’s prayer: Father God, You’ve been very good to me! My life reveals Your goodness. Thank You for how You’ve acted on my behalf, and please open my eyes to see how You’re working even now. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Tuesday be blessed!
WEDNESDAY
Christmas Promises
Luke 1:45 NIV
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!
Every believer goes through seasons when it seems like the promises of God have “fallen quiet.” That is, there doesn’t seem to be any forward movement. It might even look like those promises aren’t going to happen.
But when we choose to set aside fear and doubt and to believe what the Lord has promised WILL come to pass, we honor Him. Our belief in His promises carries a deep and intimate blessing that will one day bear beautiful fruit in our lives.
What has God promised you? Don’t be afraid to believe Him.
Today’s prayer: Father, thank You for the beautiful promises You’ve made me! I acknowledge who You are and that You will be faithful in EVERY area of my life. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Wednesday be blessed!
THURSDAY
God’s Faithfulness at Christmas
Hebrews 11:11 NIV
And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.
Something happens in the spiritual realm when we look at God and consider Him faithful. Things that are PAST TIME are brought to bear IN TIME.
Take a few minutes today to meditate on God’s faithfulness:
God will be faithful in YOUR life.
Faithfulness is part of His nature.
He has NOT forgotten about you.
Nor has He forgotten the promises He made you!
Remember your promises, and thank Him for His faithfulness.
Today’s prayer: My Father, I know You will be faithful toward me! Today I trust You to bring about this specific promise: ______________. I believe what You’ve told me, and I trust Your name. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Thursday be blessed!
FRIDAY
God’s Comfort at Christmas
Isaiah 40:11 TPT
He will care for you as a shepherd tends his flock,
gathering the weak lambs and taking them in his arms.
He carries them close to his heart
and gently leads those that have young.
A lot of us hate to feel weak, but that’s only because we don’t realize what happens when we’re struggling.
Jesus comes close to us and gathers us up in His arms. Not only does He hold us and comfort us during those times, but He also carries us forward. So when everything’s a mess and we feel like we’re going BACKWARD, we’re actually going FORWARD—because in the comfort and wisdom of God, He’s carrying us.
When we’re weak, He comes and makes us strong (2 Cor. 12:9).
Today’s prayer: Father, thank You that even in those times when I feel like everything is going wrong, You are right here with me. You take my bad times and somehow turn them into holy times—I am amazed at You. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Friday be blessed!
SATURDAY
God’s Rest at Christmas
Matthew 11:28–29 NIV
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
When we’re tired, we need Jesus. Focusing on the world drains us. Even when we’re out doing good things like taking care of other people, we have to be careful with our hearts—because we were made for Jesus. He’s where we find our rest.
The next time your heart starts to feel weary, take a few minutes just to sit in Jesus’ presence. That’s where you’ll find your hope again as you hear His voice and feel His love.
Today’s prayer: Father God, I want to experience Your rest in my life. Please show me how to do what You’ve given me to do—everything involving my family, the work You’ve given me, and the dreams You’ve put on my heart—while I keep my eyes on Your face. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Saturday be blessed!
SUNDAY
Loving Others at Christmas
John 13:34–35 NLT
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
Our choice to love other people is an act of evangelism. When we love, we’re basically telling the world, “I’ve been with Jesus. I know what He’s like, and I can show you what the truth is.”
The next time you go out of your way to listen to someone, to spend time with someone who needs you, to love someone even when it’s hard, think about how that act of love is much more than you simply making a temporary sacrifice. You are showing the world the truth about Jesus, which is a precious thing.
The Christmas season is an excellent time to do something you don’t usually do—like give a gift to an unlikely person, write an encouraging letter, show someone God’s kindness, etc. Jesus loves you more than you know, and you have the great privilege of showing His love to other people.
Today’s prayer: Holy Spirit, please lead me during this Christmas season and put on my heart a special thing to do for someone else. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Sunday be blessed!
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