December 2020

Prayer Devotions

December 2020

Luke 18:1 Pray Always and Never Give Up

Prayer for Persecuted Church

Pray for those in the midst of persecution Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Hebrews 13:3

Global watchdog Open Doors reports that 322 Christians are killed every month for their faith while millions more suffer persecution on a routine basis.

Please pray that these believers will not only stay committed to the call of Christ but also will respond in love to the evil shown by their aggressors. God’s love will open doors for these believers to share the Gospel even more.

This Month’s Countries, these are some of the most dangerous countries to follow Jesus:

Laos Vietnam Turkmenistan

Daily prayers for December… “...And then, just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can scarcely withstand it, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we take to be evil and dark is really good and light because it comes from God. Our eyes are at fault, that is all. God is in the manger, wealth in poverty, light in darkness, succor in abandonment. No evil can befall us; whatever men may do to us, they cannot but serve the God who is secretly revealed as love and rules the world and our lives.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Tuesday, December 1st: As we approach the holidays, many people are obsessed with buying gifts and many will overextend themselves in an attempt to somehow assuage the angst of what we’ve been experiencing this year. The following quote would probably pretty well describe where we were at the beginning of 2020. “Consumer spending had reached an all-time high in the United States. American companies were mass-producing goods, and consumers were buying. Technology was constantly improving, providing consumers the opportunity to purchase items to make their lives easier.” However, that was written describing the early 1920’s just prior to the Great Depression. Another hallmark of that era was the moral decay of society. This in itself should support the argument that we need to focus more attention on true American history and less on “social studies” in our schools. It has often been said that if we forget our history we will be bound to repeat it. Arguably, Covid-19 could be said to be the catalyst to the sudden shift in society as we knew it, but I believe God had a very clear message for us as believers. I believe He wanted us to remember mistakes from the past and that a self-serving attitude could dull our senses until a decadent mindset was not only tolerated but even adopted by many who claim to belong to Him. True blessing can only be found in Him and failure to recognize and honor Him will only lead to discontent and disaster. Let’s remember the real reason we celebrate this season and focus not on the gifts we buy but on the One that we have been given and which we are free to share – this is one time when re-gifting is perfectly acceptable! 2 Corinthians 4:3-5; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 2:15-17

Wednesday, December 2nd: The age of electronics and particularly the calendar on our phones can be seen as both a blessing and a bane. It’s a blessing when I get a reminder or when I can just open my calendar to check what I have coming up; it’s a bane when I rely on it too heavily or forget to enter something and wind up double scheduling or missing an appointment. Why not use the calendar as a springboard for prayer? Experience would most likely tell us that events tend to go more smoothly when we have prayed about them ahead of time. Knowing that, why not make a practice of looking at your calendar in order to cover in prayer your upcoming meetings, appointments, engagements, or possibly things like elections or holidays? As you do, ask God to direct your prayers regarding these events and maybe even keep a record of ways in which you might recognize His leading and Presence as the events take place. You can never go wrong when you cover it with prayer. 1 John 5:14-15; Jeremiah 33:3

Thursday, December 3rd: We may be tempted to ask God, “Why me? Why us? Why do we continue to go through all of this?” We may even be trying to barter with God that we should be somehow exempted from the strife because, after all, we have been faithful and have to the best of our abilities distanced ourselves from the moral corruption. Yet another way to view where we find ourselves might be to thank God that He chose us to be alive at such a time as this to be His emissaries. We could have been born into any other era, any other country, any other family – but He chose to place us in this exact time and place in history because He has specific assignments for each one of us that He believes we can accomplish for His kingdom if we will just say yes to Him and trust Him to be our strength and provision. I find it encouraging that He considers our generation to be warriors who can be trusted with such a daunting challenge. May we eagerly accept the assignment, moving forward in His power and grace, undeterred by any opposition or cost. Esther 4:14; Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9

Friday, December 4th: We certainly shouldn’t be serving for acknowledgment or the kudos, but if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s nice when someone gives us affirmation. The problems arise when the recognition begins to stimulate us and we crave the attention of being a “somebody” and that becomes our motivation. We want to be well known when what we really need is to be known well. That’s something that takes intimacy, transparency, humility, and vulnerability. Most of those who yearn to be well known deal with insecurity which often exhibits itself in prideful behavior. They are well aware of their personal shortcomings, so being transparent or vulnerable would only expose their flaws, but the liberating truth is that we are already known most intimately by the One who matters the most – He who formed us and declares that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The most powerful being in the universe calls you by name – He knows you! As shocking and perhaps disappointing as it may seem, there is no one living or dead who is recognized by everyone. If recognition were such a great thing, why do so many celebrities wind up disillusioned, taking their own lives either directly or through lifestyles that ultimately lead to their death? If we’re living for the applause, it eventually dies – as do we – and then what? When we rest in the gratification we can experience from being adored and cherished by Almighty God Himself, no other recognition is needed. If He chooses to elevate us, it will be because He trusts us to acknowledge the source and we’ll rejoice in that because it’s a lasting reward. After all, He doesn’t call us according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace. You are serving God Himself because He uniquely equipped you to be able to do what you do, and He sees you. All we truly need is the audience of One. Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 6:1-4; Galatians 1:10

Saturday, December 5th: Look to the Lord - “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118.24) Look to the Lord. In everything give thanks. Seek His face evermore. Seek for His will to be done. Declare that His goodness and mercy follow you. He watches over you like a mother hen with her chicks. His eyes go to and fro the whole earth looking for those whose heart is perfect toward Him. If you acknowledge Him in all your ways you have the assurance that He will direct your steps. He will set you on high. He will give you an expected end. He will fight for you and the victory will be yours. You are more than a conqueror. Put on your armor. Take the sword of the spirit and fight the good fight of faith. Look to the rock of salvation. We know: "All things work together for good to those that love the Lord to those that are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28, I Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 105:4, Psalm 23:6, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Proverbs 3:6, Psalm 91:14, Exodus 14:14, Romans 8:37, Ephesians 6:12, Psalm 18:12

Sunday, December 6th: Sometimes we become so familiar with a story that we skim over it when we read it for the umpteenth time. Most likely the Good Samaritan would fall into that category, but it’s amazing how God can use different avenues to reveal new insights and depth into what we overlook in our lack of wonder and curiosity in His word. We know that the Samaritan should have been the least likely of the three that passed the wounded man on the road to stop and help. One of the aspects of this story that I had personally never considered was that the Samaritan was going somewhere with a purpose that had to be temporarily put on hold. His plans were interrupted, but nonetheless he stopped. He did what was placed in front of him, yet he knew his personal mission and his limits. He demonstrated God’s compassion and love, allowed for and dealt with the interruption, but he did not allow it to derail his calling. He was the vehicle for saving the man, but he was not the savior. Even if we can say that we would not be like the priest or the Levite who chose to ignore and possibly even loathe the man in need, it can become a temptation to see ourselves in a larger role of responsibility than that to which God has called us. We must be willing to do what we can, even when it may be inconvenient and may cost us something, but we need also remember that God is the true source of salvation and we must always keep our eyes on His plans and purpose. Like the Samaritan, let us stay the course even as we compassionately respond to unexpected opportunities He may place in front of us. 1 Corinthians 3:6-8; 2 Timothy 4:5-8

Monday, December 7th: The words of 2 Timothy 2:22 have some rather strong admonitions for us. We are first told to flee from youthful lusts. Some of us never outgrow those; they’re things like immediate gratification, having everything be for our own personal benefit first and foremost, failing to weigh the full cost of our choices. The word for flee is pheugō and in this context implies to shun or avoid by flight something that is abhorrent – especially vices, i.e. immoral or wicked habits and depravity. As we grow in our faith we should be outgrowing our childish or adolescent attitudes and behaviors because more and more we see their utter wickedness. Instead we are to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. Pursue is the Greek word diōkō and means to seek after eagerly, to earnestly endeavor to acquire. In other words, righteousness, faith, love and peace are not natural by-products of Christianity. They are things that need to be intentionally and fervently sought out, and it will take effort. Faith needs to be exercised in order to become a vital part of our lives. In 1859 Charles Blondin successfully walked a tightrope over Niagara Falls while pushing a wheelbarrow. The crowd was amazed, and when he asked if they believed he could repeat the feat with someone in the wheelbarrow, everyone shouted affirmatively. However when he asked for volunteers, there were none. Their faith wasn’t as strong as they verbalized! Righteousness and faith are what develop when we deliberately and consistently make right choices that are in line with God’s word. Love and peace are also acquired through a sacrifice of our self-centered motives; they are not just warm fuzzy feelings or simply the lack of conflict or animosity. Naturally these all come from choosing to be in the Word and to obey, and it helps when you are in community with like-minded believers. Together may we build up and encourage one another to grow into all that we were meant to be in Christ. Hebrews 5:12-14, 10:24-25; 2 Peter 1:3-11

Tuesday, December 8th: Speak of them (the Lord's commandments) when you sit in your house - Deuteronomy 11:19 Have you ever met Mr. Nobody? Sure you have! Remember when you asked a child, "Who broke the window?" and Nobody was the name you were given. Everything I needed to know: I Learned in Kindergarten was a popular book published some years ago. The title was catchy and the message was valuable. But the book left out God's Word. There was a time when God's Word was read in schools. But that is not the case any longer and young children cannot resist teachers and administrators who take their Bibles from them. But parents can read the Bible in their homes as this verse commands. After all, when the question is, "Who was reading this Bible?" the answer should not be Mr. Nobody.

Wednesday, December 9th: As we become more engaged in our prayer lives and desire to see them grow, one thing we can do is become intentional in looking for new things about which to pray. After all, we’re told in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing, so that would suggest that there are probably a lot of opportunities and areas of prayer that we may be missing on a day-to-day basis. On special occasions ask God how you could pray for those involved: weddings – that the union would be God-honoring and the couple would learn to truly be committed to one another; funerals – for the comfort of those grieving and for a sharper awareness for all of the reality of death; family gatherings – that there would be unity and mutual respect and appreciation and for meaningful engagement in conversation and activities. Before a church service or before you read your Bible, ask God to open your heart and mind to what He would have you glean from the message. During the service pray for Jesus to reveal Himself to those who are hurting or who have never accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior. When you see a homeless person, pray for their safety; their physical, emotional and spiritual health; and then, if God prompts you to do so, help them in some way. And just pray for God to reveal to you opportunities throughout the day for prayer. You may come up with more ideas and find that your conversations with your Father become more frequent, more intimate, and more meaningful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Ephesians 6:18; Jeremiah 33:3

Thursday, December 10th: The holidays can be an especially difficult time for those who are dealing with loss or other forms of trauma. Everyone around them seems to be so joyful and expectant, yet they themselves are weighed down with grief, hopelessness, or a sense of isolation and despair. The stark contrast between what they are seeing and what they are feeling can push them even deeper into that dark place of depression and desperation. But there is hope, and it is found in the person of Jesus, the Light of the world who has come that none should remain in darkness. Pray that those who are struggling will find encouragement and a door to restoration through the Darkness to Hope service tomorrow night in the Youth Auditorium from 6:30-8:00. Sometimes all you need is to know that you’re not alone and to hear the stories of others who have come out on the other side of desperation into the peace and comfort that only a loving Savior can provide. There really is hope. John 12:46; Psalm 40:1-3; Psalm 34:18-19

Friday, December 11th: Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith - II Corinthians13:5. Paul was rejected in Corinth where the church was divided between those who rejected him and those who accepted him. How often do we read in the Scripture about a messenger of God being rejected by the authorities of their time? Was the rejection of Paul any different from the rejection of Jeremiah or Amos? Each of these messengers was intensely disliked for reminding worshippers, "If you bring a gift to the altar and there remember thy brother has something against you, leave the gift, be reconciled with your brother and then come before God with your gift.” (Matthew 5:22-23) The Israelites of the Northern Kingdom had grown wealthy in the time of Amos. Peace and prosperity led to high rents on the poor and political practices unpleasing to God. Instead of reminding the people of God's word, the priest Amazaiah supported the secular party of Jeroboam. With the king's support he drove Amos away. Jesus taught we must examine the splinter in our own eye lest we ignore His teachings ourselves. Lord, let us always remember to examine ourselves in preparation for facing a world hostile to You and for the task of proclaiming the Truth of God's Word.

Saturday, December 12th: Most of us are familiar with Jeremiah 29:11 and love to know that God has a plan for us and that it’s for our welfare to give us a future and a hope. But how often do we read the rest of the chapter? If you begin in verse seven you’ll discover that the Israelites were in exile at the time, and in verse ten the Lord informs them, “Oh, and by the way, you’re going to be here for seventy years.” Seventy years! That may be a paraphrase, but the point is the plans would not come to fruition for a long time, and it would be at the completion of the seventy years that He would listen when they called on Him and prayed to Him. We love the promises; we just don’t like the time spent in captivity. Years ago there was a song by a group called Silverwind that was titled “Instant Breakfast” with the lyrics, “Instant Christian, changed overnight, anything easy 'cuz that's what we like. Help me grow, Lord. Show me how. Give me the patience! I want it now!" Isn’t that how we are? We forget that Abraham was promised he would be the father of many nations, but the promised heir didn’t show up until 25 years later. Moses knew that he had been raised up by God to deliver the Israelites, but he spent 40 years with them in the desert and only saw the Promised Land from a distance. Mary knew her son was the promised Messiah, but His ministry didn’t begin until He was 30 years old. We need to be willing to rest in His promises and know that when He has a plan it may take some time of preparation both in us and in the timing of events around us. Just remember that He is never late, His vision of the plan is usually way beyond what we could conceive, and all of His promises are yes and amen. Ephesians 3:20-21; 2 Peter 3:8-9

Sunday, Decmber 13th: Reading from Genesis 29:32-35 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” 33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. 34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. The Lord designed us to be complete/fulfilled/satisfied when we are in relationship with Him and when He is first in our lives. It’s easy to think another person, especially a spouse, will meet our needs and make us happy, but this kind of thinking will only lead to frustration and hurt. The first commandment God gave us was to put Him first in our affection. Others will never fill the place in our hearts that God has designed for Himself. We may try numerous ways in a relationship to have this expectation fulfilled, but ultimately our joy (much deeper and sweeter than happiness!) will come from taking our needs to Jesus first; getting to know the Lord more and more. When we follow the Holy Spirit’s voice, we will find that our soul is satisfied in a way that is beyond any human love we may seek.

Monday, December 14th: Pray Always - My ear is open to your prayers. I am near and ready to answer your requests. You can ask big, like the impossible, or you can ask about the smallest details of your life. I delight to hear your voice and even welcome your dependence upon Me. I have given you an open invitation to come boldly to My throne of grace. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37) There is nothing too difficult for Me. I can turn any situation into an opportunity for My grace. Trust in Me enough to know that I am for you, and if I am for you who can be against you? I long to hear your voice lifted to the throne room. Heaven’s court is open. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of My throne. Bring all of your requests before Me and let Me weigh the situation with My mercy and grace. "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NIV, Hebrews 4:16, Jeremiah 32:7, Romans 8:31, Psalm 89:14

Tuesday, December 15th: As of November 10, 247K covid deaths constituted a pandemic, a black person wielding a knife and shot by police incited riots, yet the mainstream media and BLM say nothing of the atrocity of the intentional killing of black babies. According to the Guttmacher Institute, which generally supports abortion, in 2011- 360,000 black babies were aborted while CDC statistics for 2011 showed that 287,072 black deaths occurred from all other causes. That’s 46% more black babies intentionally aborted (from the totals of nine years ago) than the total number of “Covid deaths” and 25% more than the deaths of blacks from all other causes that year. By these numbers, abortion is the leading cause of death among blacks. And the total number of abortions for that year was 1,058,000! Why do we never hear these numbers? Why do we tolerate such infanticide? Arguably there can be rare cases where ending a pregnancy may be considered, but it isn’t as if this typically was an unavoidable malady contracted by an unsuspecting innocent. Choices have consequences, and we can’t just stand idly by and condone destroying a developing baby as a viable solution to having made a bad choice. A sign was posted outside a Planned Parenthood facility that read Babies’ Lives Matter. We should stand against the taking of any life because we’re all made in God’s image, but I believe He is especially grieved at the violence against these most vulnerable. Pray not only for legislation to be overturned that allows for such a heinous practice but also for an awakening to the sanctity of each precious life – womb to tomb. Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:22-23; Proverbs 6:16-17

Wednesday, December 16th: It used to be that we all had physical photo albums to help us remember special people and occasions. Now our pictures are more often on our computers and phones, but the idea hasn’t changed and we can still categorize them into “albums”. On my phone I have a separate album for each of my children as well as several for special events such as camping trips or graduations. Why not make a prayer album of people you want to pray for on a regular basis and then determine a specific time – once a month, once a week, every day – and set a reminder on your phone? And if you’re really old school, you can put together an actual photo album. The point is to have a visual of each person you want to remember in prayer as a reminder, and it can be altered whenever He puts someone new on your heart or for some reason there is someone whose name might be removed either temporarily or permanently. You might also want to keep a small notepad to record specific needs to pray for each person, either as they themselves or God reveals them to you. This can also be used to record answers to prayer which give cause for praise and rejoicing in His faithfulness. One of the most powerful ways to remember and reflect on our love for others is to pray for them. Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:1

Thursday, December 17th: There are times when I can feel overwhelmed by circumstances, and it would be easy to succumb to the temptation to throw myself a pity party. I don’t mean to minimize the reality of hardships we all may experience, but when I put what I’m facing into perspective – weighing my first world problems against what other Christians around the world face – I can instead find compassion for those who deal with far more than most of us will ever have to endure. In just the last year there have been: over 260 million Christians living in places where they experience high levels of persecution; 2,983 Christians killed for their faith; 9,488 churches and other Christian buildings attacked; 3,711 believers detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned. (2020 World Watch List reporting period) As brothers and sisters in the Lord, we should feel compelled to pray for those who are persecuted for their faith. I, for one, need to be able to look beyond myself and praise God that He has given me the freedom I have and to then ask for His protection and intervention on behalf of those who do not have that freedom. We are all in the same family, so we should feel the same burden for them that we would for a blood relative. Pray that they would feel comfort, encouragement, and protection from the Lord and pray that their persecutors would come to know Him. To gain a clearer understanding of what and for whom to pray, visit the following link. www.persecution.com/IDOP Matthew 5:10-12; Hebrew 13:3

Friday, December 18th: All of the scrumptious treats associated with this season make weight management more challenging. I would love to be able to eat cookies and chocolate, mashed potatoes and gravy, candy canes and kettle corn but to also fit into a size four. Sometimes our choices are too plentiful and the desire for an immediate gratification of the flesh outweighs (in every sense of the word!) what we know would be the better path to follow. I was horrified when the Pope made his declaration that the Catholic church now officially recognizes same sex unions. There have been several “clarifications” that state he was simply supporting civil unions and was not contradicting church doctrine, but really? How slippery does the slope have to get before we sink into the mire? Arizona officially sanctioned the recreational use of marijuana, and Oregon has decriminalized the possession of small amounts of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines! These hard drugs are substances that according to federal law carry a minimum five year prison sentence for possession. And the number of deaths related to these drugs has been increasing annually at an alarming rate. How many dominoes need to fall before we wake up and realize there is a plumb line and we have strayed so far from it that most can’t even find the wall? We are called to set the standard not only in what we profess but in how we walk that out. Lord, forgive us for our own lack of discipline and for tolerance of the eroding away of fidelity to Your standards. Help us to mindfully weigh our choices in light of Your word. Matthew 7:13-14; Hebrew 11:25; 2 Peter 3:14-18

Saturday, December 19th: Deep Calls to Deep - My banner over you is love. I invite you into the presence of God. Come away with Me, My beloved, to enjoy the divine atmosphere of heavenly joy. Your heart will melt with absolute awe as you behold the glory of God and His Majesty. God the creator of the ends of the earth wants an audience with His creation. You can know Him. He has placed eternity in every heart. You can live in His presence every day. He calls deep unto deep. He is the God of all comfort. He rejoices over you with singing. He has your name engraved on the palm of His hands. God loves you with an everlasting love. He has chosen you. He has redeemed you. He calls you to launch out into the deep water. You can have a peace that surpasses all understanding. Come to the waters and drink. Come away My beloved. Be still and know that I am God. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Sunday, December 20th: There’s a big difference between having a vast amount of knowledge about God and actually having the knowledge of God. A person may be able to quote entire books of the Bible and recount to you a plethora of obscure facts about God and still be destined for an eternity separated from Him. They may appear to be super Christians and may project that image to those they encounter, but we are told that there is more hope for a fool that for those who are wise in their own eyes. But to have the knowledge of God, now that’s another story. This is the stuff that motivates us to live above our circumstances, beyond our inherent abilities, and to achieve more than we could ever have imagined – all to His glory. It could be likened to having a conversation with someone. If you are interviewing the person in order to write an article about them, you will want to know information about them and their accomplishments. However, if you’re sitting down over coffee to get to know them personally you will be more interested in their heart – what interests them, what’s important to them, how they view life in general. The more time spent together, the better you get to know them. The better you get to know them, the more you can determine how they would feel about certain issues and how they would most likely respond. Reading His word and regularly setting aside time to converse with Him, asking Him to reveal to you His heart, will train you in discerning and understanding what it is to have the knowledge of God and to enjoy the depths of the riches that it affords. Proverbs 2:1-9; Romans 11:33; 2 Peter 1:2-3

Monday, December 21st: We’ve all heard the advice to choose our battles, but what do we do when the battle chooses us? When it catches us totally off guard and we did nothing to cause it. When we don’t have time to prepare a battle plan and, to be honest, there is nothing we could do in our own strength anyway that would be effective in combating what we’re facing. King Jehoshaphat faced such a battle when the Ammonites, Moabites and Meunites decided to wage war against him and they were basically at his doorstep. The king sought the Lord and reminded Him that these were the same people He had told them not to invade when they were coming into the Promised Land. He also reiterated that the land was God’s possession which He had given to Israel as an inheritance. In other words, it was God’s battle. Therefore, the strategy and the outcome were in His hands – right where they belonged. And what God revealed to them was that they didn’t even need to fight; they only needed to praise. I saw this approach played out recently by our niece whose husband suffered a catastrophic stroke at the age of 40, and as she sat by his bedside and contacted friends and relatives, her stance was grounded in Exodus 14:14 - “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Throughout the ordeal she held on to the surety that God is good all the time and whatever the outcome it would be His will according to His purpose. And for Ted’s memorial service she chose to have her cousins sing, “…with every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.” She didn’t choose this battle, but she did choose how to face it, and the One she put her trust in carried her through. Always remember that we are His treasure – His possession – and He will always fight to protect what belongs to Him. Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 41:10; 2 Corinthians 4:7-9; Romans 8:31, 35-39

Tuesday, December 22nd: And, the vessel that he made was marred in the potter’s hand. - Jeremiah 18:4 The image of a marred pot offers an excellent example of the state of people who have not accepted Jesus as Savior. Paul's words remind us "all have sinned" - i.e. separated from God. But God is able to remake us in the image of Christ so that rather than seeing the ugliness of our sin, He sees the beauty of Christ's obedience to His Father's will. As we let Him remake and reshape us on His potter's wheel, He transforms us into vessels of honor and attraction to others. Just as the potter uses tools to shape and smooth the clay, so too God applies the right technique needed to accomplish His purpose and make you His heir when we let Him. Lord, help me to recognize I am marred; help me to repent and ask for Your help in changing. Remember, He will remake all who call on His name. He that is sent greater than the One that sent him. - John 13:16

Wednesday, December 23rd: This very well could be one of the most critical times in at least recent history for us to be on our knees praying for God’s will and intervention in what are referred to as the Seven Areas of Influence. These are those areas that affect (or infect) our culture. They are: government, media, business, education, family, church, and entertainment. For government you might pray that those in leadership positions would be influenced by godly advisors and would put the good of the nation ahead of any personal or party agendas. Pray that hidden motives would be revealed in the media and that there would be fair and unbiased reporting of actual facts that are not skewed by what radical factions demand. Pray that businesses would be run ethically, especially those companies that are operated in a way that reflects godly principles, and that our economy would be healthy. Pray that educational institutions would teach truth and would not suppress the influence of Biblical principles or promote humanistic propaganda. Pray that our families and churches would be strong and healthy, reflecting God’s wisdom, mercy, grace and love. Finally pray that entertainment would be morally acceptable and would build up and support the godly principles and values on which our country was founded. These are just starting points or suggestions. And above all, pray that the body of Christ would lead the way in modeling His character and that we would be unified and submitted to His guidance and protection. Proverbs 2:1-8; Romans 15:5-6; Ephesians 3:14-21 19

Thursday, December 24 th: Today is one of the two times in the year when churches are much more likely to be visited than any other. (The other, of course, is Easter.) This means those who would otherwise manufacture a litany of excuses as to why they wouldn’t be able to visit church with you are much more receptive to such an invitation. The true Christmas story is tender and expresses the profound love and vulnerability that God is willing to extend to us all. We see Jesus coming to us humbly, which speaks a message of acceptance to every walk of life. He was not born into royalty, there was no temperature controlled maternity ward, and the birth announcement was made to a bunch of farm hands. Nothing pretentious or intimidating there. Don’t put any expectations or suggest any motivation for the invitation other than you would like to share some time with them in what many feel is a traditional part of the Christmas celebration. Come just as you are and bring others with you – it doesn’t matter why they come to church; what matters is what they receive when they get here. Pray for them to have open hearts and leave the rest up to Him. Psalm 95:1-7; Romans 10:14

Friday, December 25 th: I grew up in the Midwest in what could be described as an income challenged family. That said, one particular Christmas when I was in Junior High my parents weren’t able to buy me the very stylish raccoon collar winter coat that was all the rage, but they did give me a knock-off. I was less appreciative than I should have been because it wasn’t what I had expected. It certainly served the purpose intended, but the “wrappings” were not what I was hoping for. When Jesus arrived on the scene, He didn’t arrive the way the religious community was anticipating. He was not born into a royal, military or politically prominent family and He came in the fragile, helpless form of an infant. And although He was truly the Father’s greatest gift to mankind, He came to become a suffering servant who would die a humiliating death. We love to embrace the idea of the Christ child as the One who will meet all of our wants rather than our needs. We celebrate Him more as a holy Santa than our holy Savior and Lord. Today may we all rejoice in the purpose of this marvelous gift, recognizing the profound love that motivated the gift and the sacrifice that is associated with the depth of that love. Then we can truly appreciate the gift and experience the love and joy of having received it. John 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:15

Saturday, December 26th: We have the good news of Jesus to share with the world, but without the power of God it is an incomplete gospel. We can’t expect to defeat evil if we aren’t walking in the power of His gifts. We can’t outsmart the power of evil – we need a power that is greater, and the church needs to be demonstrating that power to the rulers of darkness wherever and however they may be encountered. Christ came to transform us and to set us free, but we need to accept the gift and then allow it to change and empower us. It’s His Presence in us. Only when we appropriate what that means and dwell in His Presence will we demonstrate the fruits of His Spirit – the spiritual gifts we receive from Him and through Him to reveal the magnitude of who He is – and the evidence of them should be increasing! There’s no question that the insidious influence of evil is increasing, and it has even infiltrated the church. Just read 2 Timothy 3:1-5 for a glimpse of what we see all around us. If we profess the name of Jesus, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit is not optional. Jesus humbled Himself and became flesh for a reason. He took the penalty of our sin in His wretched death for a reason. He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us for a reason. The gifts are not just for our benefit; they are to build up the whole body, His church, in order to show itself a bold and forceful body capable of victoriously prevailing against the very gates of hell. They are to equip us for His great commission. They are to be eagerly and earnestly sought and used for His purpose. Lord, forgive us for any ways that we have been complacent in our attitudes and have not fully engaged in Your purpose or appropriated Your divine resources. Fill us with a holy fire that we would walk in a manner worthy of Your calling and we will illustrate to the lost and dying what it means to be transformed from glory to glory. 1 Corinthians 12; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Sunday, December 27th: I Am the Way - Remember when Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) Then He asked the disciples, “But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) What about you? Who do you say He is? Who do others say He is? Jesus answered the question when He proclaimed in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: No one comes to the Father except through Me. So, do you know Jesus or do you just know what others say about Him? You can know Him in His entire splendor. He can come into your life and make His home in your heart! How? He invites you with a sweet invitation and gently asks for your reservation... your choice. Can you hear the soft gentle voice that beckons you to answer the invitation: Come and enter into the joy of your Lord. Say yes, Jesus, I need You. Forgive me for being so distant. I want to know You as my Savior and as the Lord of my life. Thank You for dying for me and forgiving my sin so that I can spend eternity with You. Thank You that I am a child of God!

Monday, December 28th: There are many who claim the name of Jesus, but the Lord prompted me awhile back with the admonition that it isn’t enough to just claim His name – it needs to be proclaimed. If we truly believe Him and have put our trust in Him, then it is obligatory that we share that with others. We are to be a light in the darkness and it isn’t too difficult to see that we are surrounded by darkness. We frequently hear that these are the end times, and that may well be true, but I believe we should always live our lives as if it is the end times. After all, every day is the “end times” for someone and we never know who that may be. How tragic if we were given the opportunity to proclaim the name of Jesus and the hope that can be found in Him to someone who was experiencing their final hours and we failed to do so because we were afraid of feeling awkward or we didn’t want to come across as preachy or judgmental. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you sensitive as to when and to whom He would have you share the hope that can be found in the matchless name of Jesus. If you belong to Him, He has already equipped you with everything you need to be His witness. You’re already a pro, so be pro-active and pro-claim His name whenever He nudges you. It could be life saving. 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, 13-15; Ezekiel 33:11

Tuesday, December 29th: I recently experienced an Internet outage and was amazed to discover how much I depend on it and how powerless it feels to not have access to all those resources. As I was stressing over my lack of connectedness, God reminded me of the infinite resources available to all of us to achieve virtually any task we are given if we will simply stay connected. Prayer is our connection to that unlimited resource for literally every need we could possibly have, but we’re the ones who are responsible for maintaining the link. Sometimes all it takes is a reboot or a check to confirm that we’re still plugged in. I’m ashamed to admit the number of times that I’ve wrestled with a problem and tried to figure out a solution on my own when I could have saved myself so much time and frustration if I had just “gone online” with my omniscient, omnipotent source of all wisdom, power and authority. If the signal is ever weak or interrupted it’s because there’s a problem on my end – never His. And all of this is absolutely free! If you ever are unsure of the information you receive, you can always go to the written source for verification. He will never tell you anything that is contrary to His written word. We may be able to find facts on Google, but it can’t give us wisdom or comfort or a reassurance of where we will spend eternity. Father, thank You for giving us free access to You; help us remember to stay connected and to utilize that gift of accessibility regularly. Jeremiah 33:2-3; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 John 5:14

Wednesday, December 30th: Justice - Trust in the Lord. The word of the Lord in Psalm 112:7 “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast trusting in the Lord.” So often when I hear about bad news, my heart just sinks to a really desperate point. My reaction is why God? Why did this happen? |praying for a different answer. I need some answers. Trusting at first seems in the distant future (after I get answers). Finally, when I do turn to the Lord, I find comfort in knowing that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord. I am comforted in knowing God's goodness. I know God's thoughts towards me are only for good and not for evil. I can rest assured that God is a God of justice. It is His plan. His thoughts are higher than mine. He knows the end from the beginning. In time I may gain an understanding or I may never understand WHY. In the grand scheme of things my part is to TRUST HIM. Psalm 56:3 "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." When I surrender my anxieties to God's word for guidance, I can find peace. A favorite scripture speaks so loudly and clearly to put our cares to rest: Romans 15:3 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” God is good. God is Love. Romans 8:38, Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 55:8, Isaiah 46:10, 1 John 4:8

Thursday, December 31st: There was such anticipation last year for a new year that would hold promise. And then… Perhaps what we needed most was the reset that was prophesied but not necessarily interpreted in the way it played out. So as we prepare for another year, let’s be neither apprehensive nor overwhelmed in our expectations. We can have confidence in the fact that God is still on His throne and He hasn’t changed. In her book The Daniel Key Anne Graham Lotz writes, “The key to thankfulness is not to view God through the lens of our circumstances, but to view our circumstances through the lens of God’s love and sovereign purpose.” Let’s determine to let that be our compass and to be steadfast in being directed in our actions and attitudes accordingly. This will not only bolster our own confidence but it will reflect to those around us the unshakeable hope that we can have in the One who has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. We are, after all, the body of Christ and as such we represent Him to those who either have lost hope or have placed it in things that ultimately can never satisfy or save. We have an assignment, so instead of being near sighted and inwardly focused, let’s set our eyes and our hopes on Him who is above the circumstances and loves us enough to entrust us with the task of spreading His good news. We’ve all gone through the same fire, and we’ve all been affected in some way because we have an enemy that would love to see us isolated and withering away. Reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ to seek and to supply healing to the body so that it will be able to effectively minister to those who don’t know Him – yet. Hebrews 10:23-25, 35; Ephesians 1:18-23; Colossians 1:24-29