Kathy thought about the approaching New Year as she filed away the boxes of last year’s paperwork. There were things she would like to do differently in this new year.

Oh, there were the usual things most of her friends were claiming as their New Year’s Resolutions:

•    Lose weight
•    Stop smoking
•    Take more time for relationships
•    Set goals

The list went on. The office was filled with laughter and the prospect of hope for change that a new year would bring.  Yet Kathy knew, in a week or so, the chatter would turn to the broken resolutions and very few of the hoped for changes would become a reality. She wanted something more for her life.

That night Kathy picked up her Bible and read Psalm 25. It was full of hope and an expectation of change that only God could bring to her life. She read it through a couple of times and underlined some verses that seemed to jump off the page, bringing fresh hope to her heart.

“Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” Psalm 25:4&5

The second time she read it through it struck her… here was her New Year’s resolution!

This would be the prayer of her heart every day in this New Year. She grabbed a recipe card and wrote out the words, letting them soak into her soul. This was the change she wanted in her life… to keep her focus daily on the path God wanted her to walk in hope and in faith.

Take a little time over the next few days and read through Psalm 25 yourself. Consider reading it every day for a week and ask God to make the promise of hope come alive to your heart. Write verse 4 & 5 on a card or a sticky note and place it where you will see it regularly. Memorize it and let it soak into your soul and change your life.

Father God, Thank you for the promise of hope You bring to my heart and my life. I do lift up my soul and my life to You now. I want to trust in You more fully this year. Tune my ears to hear Your voice more clearly. Teach me Your path and guide me in Your truth. In these changing days I need to discern Your ways for me. Help me to put my hope in You, not just occasionally or when I am in a hard place, but every day all day long. Thank you that You are God, my Savior! I ask this in the strong name of Jesus, amen.

May God guide us as we face another challenging year!

by Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• God’s Plan or My Plan?
• We Plan – God Directs

•   Salvation Explained

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Found in the Holy Bible, in the book of Luke.

The story of the Birth of Christ Jesus:

“About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was the governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s hometown, for the census. As a descendant of David he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped Him in a blanket and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the hostel.

There were shepherds camping in the neighbourhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: “Glory to God in the heavenly heights; Peace to all men and women on earth who please Him.”

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!”  (Luke 2:1-20).

It was a simple scene that first Christmas – a rough room, a young couple and nothing but a feeding trough to put the child in. It was probably quite cold and with family far away there was little help. Not exactly the Hallmark moment we like to show in Christmas pageants. And yet this rustic scene marked the greatest event in the history of mankind.

God’s Son became human and came to earth to save us. God had promised to send a Messiah, one who would save His people. He could have easily burst on the scene as a full grown man, a seven foot warrior with fiery eyes and arms of steel. This was what many people were looking for, but it wasn’t how God did it. He arrived in the arms of a young girl. He was, as another of our authors put it, “a very small package, wrapped in rags, given from the heart of God. The perfect gift.”

God gave His only Son to die in our place so that we, in all our brokenness, could know forgiveness. He came so that we could know what love feels like, real love – love that never leaves, love that never disappoints, love that is never betrayed. He sent His Son into a corrupted world to bring us hope.

How are you doing this Christmas?
Are you having a hard time finding hope in the world? Are you having a hard time finding peace? It doesn’t have to be that way. You can have peace and find hope and know forgiveness through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Are you at a place in your life where you want to know Jesus and have him in your life?  You can start a life surrendered to Christ today. This is a sample prayer, but the words are powerful and full of meaning.  If  you truly believe them Christ will enter your life and start you on a wonderful journey. (not always easy, but never alone)

Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You and ask You to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

It starts now!

Further Reading

•  Marvelous Love – A Story of a Mother’s Love

•  The Christmas Story: Does It Still Matter?

•  Salvation Explained

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“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” I John 1:9

Marvin, I, and a friend were driving through the Joshua Tree National Park in southeastern California and stopped to take pictures of the cactus plants.

Norm asked me to take his picture standing beside a big cactus plant. What we didn’t realize was that the cactus prickles are a lot like porcupine needles. They hook the clothes skin, shoes — anything — of anyone who gets too close.

Well, Norm got too close and ended with his clothes and shoes covered in prickles. When Marvin tried to help remove them, they stuck to his hand. What to do? We didn’t have a pair of pliers or tweezers to pull them out.

We continued our drive — Marvin with a ball of cactus prickles clinging to his finger and Norm covered with them. Both men were in pain!

A short time later we came upon a car parked by the side of the road. We stopped and asked the occupant if he had a pair of pliers. He not only produced a pair, but proceeded to pull out all the cactus prickles. What relief! The kindness of this man was wonderful. He told us that he understood — he had made the same mistake.

Spiritual application? How often do we get too close to sin and then have to suffer the consequences. Too much food, alcohol, gambling, ungrateful attitudes, and criticism, to name a few. Often others near us get embroiled with the same sin.

But we have a Savior! Just as the man by the side of the road saved us, so Jesus will save us from our sins. He will forgive and remove them,

“He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Question. Are you stuck with sins that you can’t get rid of? Ask Jesus to do it. He will!

Pray this prayer. “Lord Jesus, I confess that I am caught in the sin of _______. I can’t get rid of it. Will You please forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness? Thank you so much! Amen.”

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• Finished with Sin
• The Sin Tracker
• A Lost Art

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Do you feel distant from God? The Bible teaches that even believers can lose their sense of closeness with God because of sin. The good news is that God has provided a way to restore that relationship.

God’s Reset Button: Confession

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Confession is like hitting a reset button in your spiritual life. It restores your fellowship with God and brings peace back into your heart.

When we moved into a new home, our garbage disposal suddenly stopped working. After checking underneath the sink, I found a small red reset button. As soon as I pressed it, everything started working again.

In the same way, unconfessed sin can stop us from living a joyful and productive Christian life.

What Sin Does to Your Relationship with God

The Bible shows that sin affects our fellowship with God. In Psalm 38, King David describes the physical and emotional toll of unconfessed sin before he finally turned back to God.

Even though you remain God’s child through faith in Christ (John 1:12), sin can disrupt your daily relationship with Him.

How to Restore Fellowship with God

You can restore your relationship with God at any moment.

When you confess and turn from your sin:

• God forgives you completely.
• He cleanses you from all unrighteousness.
• Your fellowship with Him is restored.

This is God’s promise – not based on feelings, but on His faithfulness.

Take a Moment to Reset

Ask God to reveal anything in your life that displeases Him. When something comes to mind, acknowledge it honestly and receive His forgiveness.

One man, after realizing that all his sins were forgiven through Christ, responded with overwhelming joy, saying, “I’m free!” That same freedom is available to you.

A Prayer to Restore Your Relationship with God

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that I have sinned against You. Thank You for forgiving my sins through Christ’s death on the cross. I invite Christ to take His rightful place in my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and guide me according to Your will. Thank You for restoring me and leading me forward. Amen.

Further Reading

• God’s Plan – A Study on God’s Purpose for Your Life
• We Plan, God Directs
• Salvation Explained

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“People insulted Christ, but He did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but He did not threaten.” 1 Peter 2:23

Someone you love or respect slams you to the floor with a slur or slip of the tongue.  And there you lie, wounded and bleeding.  Perhaps the words were intended to hurt you, perhaps not; but that doesn’t matter.  The wound is deep.  The injuries are internal. Broken heart, wounded pride, bruised feelings.

If you have suffered or are suffering because of someone else’s words, you’ll be glad to know that there is a balm for this laceration.  Meditate on these words from 1 Peter 2:23:  “People insulted Christ, but He did not insult them in return … He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of Him.”

Did you see what Jesus did?  …. He left the judging to God. He did not take on the task of seeking revenge.  He demanded no apology … He to the astounding contrary, spoke on their defense.

“Father, forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

By Max Lucado
Used by permission
From: No Wonder They Call Him the Savior

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://maxlucado.com/about/

FURTHER READING

• Keep Yourselves in God’s Love
• Stepping Into a Personal Revival

The post Wounded by Words appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)

Let’s today imagine ourselves in Bethlehem, in company of astounded shepherds and adoring Magi who have gathered to see Him who was born King of the Jews. Together we can sing in faith “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend. This is a new opportunity for us adore and admire Him.

Remember first His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a Son.

God’s first promise in the Garden of Eden says “The seed of the woman,” not the offspring of man. A woman sinned in the Garden, but in God’s grace a woman also had the privilege of ushering in the one would will restore Paradise. Our Savior, although fully human, was in His human nature the Holy One of God. This realization should cause us to reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores humankind to its ancient glory. Jesus is, in fact, our previous, and only, hope of glory.

Remember second His humble parents. His mother is described simply as “a virgin.” Not a princess, or prophetess. Not rich or powerful. What humble accommodations for a new-born king! Yet she could still sing the sweetest songs of praise and was chosen for her faithfulness to God despite her modest circumstances.

Immanuel, God with us … in our nature, our sorrow, our life, our death, and now with us forever. Or rather we are with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and glorious triumph.

Question: God with us … where do you turn when it feels like God isn’t with us, even though we know He is?

By Charles H. Spurgeon
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Christmas Inspirations

•  The Christmas Story – the story of Jesus Birth

•  Salvation Explained

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“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again — my Savior and my God!” Psalm 42:11 (NLT)

When your heart has been shattered, it’s hard to make sense of all the broken pieces.

You cry out, wondering when the pain will end, when the heartaches will disappear. You have done all you can do, but relief seems so far away.

Today, take your eyes off the pain and look above. Hope lies in the beauty of every new day that is given. Take comfort in knowing that God allows new beginnings. Each day is a day for His grace to overshadow your painful past. It’s a day that leads to a better tomorrow.

You have been given a second chance at life, a second chance at love. It is in these moments when God’s hand is evident. He is able to mend the broken pieces and give you beauty for ashes. He is able to wipe away every tear that you shed and give you new life.

Will you choose to see His love through the pain of your yesterday? Or will you allow Him to open your eyes to the joys that surround you? It may seem as though your world is falling apart, but to God, it may just be falling into place. Nothing we encounter takes Him by surprise. In exchange for the broken pieces, He gives us renewed hope, a greater strength, and an abundance of His peace.

Lord, I pray for my brothers and sisters who have been struggling with broken relationships, broken dreams, or a broken heart. You see them and You are very aware of what they’re going through. I ask that You will minister healing and wholeness to them right now and allow them to see a glimpse of hope. You are the lover of their souls and You have their best interest at heart. I thank You for restoration. I thank You for renewed hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Whatever You Do...
•  Who Will You Fight For?
•  Salvation Explained

The post You Can Hope Again appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Friends phoned to say that there was a cat up a tree crying and that it had been there howling for two days. We quickly drove over to check it out. As soon as we got out of the car we could hear it howling. We ran over to the tree and looked up but we couldn’t see it. It was at least thirty feet up in a branchy old cedar tree. Somehow this cat had gotten up the tree and wasn’t coming down. We would call and it would howl but it wasn’t moving. To my amazement my wife decided to climb up the tree to try and find it in the branches. Without a thought to her own safety, or what she might find, she struggled her way up the tree and discovered a frightened little kitten clinging to a branch. Just as amazing was to see my wife climbing down the tree with the kitten on her shoulder snuggled against her neck.  It was totally relaxed. The kitten didn’t fight, scratch or holler. It just lay there. Safe! Rescued!

We too have a rescuer who will rescue us if we cry out… His name is Jesus!

My prayer for you this week: “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants!” Amen. Daniel 3:28

Have a great week

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