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Wednesday Devotion

12/13/2017

Good morning ladies. I hope you're doing well. I apologize for missing the devotion yesterday. I forgot to mention that I had a doctor's appointment on the east side and then a lunch scheduled with some friends that we haven't seen in awhile. That was a lot of fun (the lunch). It's great to take time out to catch up on those special people in our lives, even if we feel like we are just too busy. So, what are you up to today? I'm sure we all have our 'lists.' One of the lists I'll be working on is the grocery list. The cupboards are getting bare around here. Other than that, I plan to take it one thing at a time.

Prayer & Praise

Let's be praying for our college students as they're in the midst of finals and projects right now. This can be a very stressful time.

Devotion

Do you ever feel like you have to be a certain way or do certain things to get God's approval and love? Maybe you just feel like you don't measure up to what you think He wants from you. Today's devotion assures us that God's love doesn't depend on who we are or what we accomplish. He wants us to focus on who He is. When we do that, we will sense His presence and great love for us. Have a Wonderful Wednesday ladies!

“When You Don’t Feel Good Enough”

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them …”
Luke 2:8-9a (NIV)

I’m sure it didn’t go the way he’d planned. In fact, his words just moments before indicated he had great expectations for this morning. Something tells me this is not what the music director meant.

We stood side by side in the front row, eager for another wonderful Sunday of worship. My family and I sit in the front row — not because we’re super holy Christians or because we’re always on time so we can grab the best seats in the house — but because when you sit in the front row there is no one in front of you to be bothered by kids kicking the seats.

So we stood there in the front row while our music director shared how he felt something really special would happen that day. Then we proceeded to sing.

During the course of worship our music director actually messed up a few times (which he rarely does), and I think the instruments may have even been playing different measures a time or two. Nevertheless, my crew and I bellowed at the top of our lungs. And in the midst of this chorus I realized, we sound awful!

Some of us were basically yelling. Some of our voices cracked. We sang some right notes and some wrongs ones. It was a musical mess.

But in the midst of our half-sung, half-yelled song, my thoughts drifted to God on His throne, and I smiled. I think God smiled, too. Because perfection is not the standard that paves the way to God.

In today’s key verse, we find the announcement of the birth of Jesus, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them …” (Luke 2:8-9).

God didn’t announce Himself to the kings of earth. He didn’t even orchestrate a banquet for His unveiling. Instead, God sent a chorus of angels to a forgotten field, and He invited shepherds to share His story.

In a world where love and acceptance are so often performance-based privileges, it seems love must be earned … and once earned it must be kept. Love from the world comes based on your status or what you have to offer. And if you have nothing, you receive nothing.

Because of the conditions placed on the world’s version of love, it can be easy to evaluate our relationship with God based on how well we do. If we can say things are basically under control, we feel good about ourselves. We decide we’ve done enough to come to God’s throne and ask things of Him or enjoy His presence.

But when we look around and see chaos and one mess after another, we decide we must be doing something wrong. We determine God isn’t available to us — or He’s waiting on us to figure it all out before we can approach Him.

God’s love is very different than human love. God isn’t waiting for us to get it right to approach Him. Just as God extended the miraculous birth of His one and only Son, Jesus, to a group of shepherds on a hillside, He extends His gift to you today.

The angels announced. The shepherds responded. And when they went, they met the Savior, Christ the Lord.

Let’s stop trying so hard to impress God, and simply be impressed by Him.

You may have heard this story many times before, but have you responded? Today, let’s exchange our efforts to earn God’s love for the invitation to encounter Him right where we are.

Dear Jesus, I admit that in the rush of the season, I can miss Your miraculous entrance to earth. Forgive me, Lord. Today, I pause from all of my efforts and accept the invitation into Your presence. Refresh me with Your Word and renew my thirst for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Katy McCown

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Luke 2:10-11, “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’” (NIV)

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Monday Devotion

12/11/2017

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Good morning ladies. How are you doing? Is it really Monday already? The weekend flew by, as usual. We had a wonderful day yesterday, with an encouraging message on PEACE, the second week of Advent. I love the Advent season and the messages of HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE. It's such a special time of year as we reflect on the First Advent--the baby Jesus. And the children did the reading and the lighting of the candles. Loved that! We also had a great time of worship together. After church was the staff and spouses Christmas party. That was a lot of fun. I love these people! Great food too. I was trying to think back to what we did on Saturday and I think I spent most of the day resting, although I did make Casey some chocolate chip cookies. I did this for a specific reason. I will soon start to make some Christmas cookies, and what usually happens is they get eaten almost as fast as I make them. This way, he has something to satisfy his sweet tooth for awhile. Ha! Let's hope this works. I am feeling a bit better in the rib/rotator cuff department. Thank you for praying for me. Today, I start physical therapy on my hip. I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm anxious to be walking and moving properly again. What's on your agenda today?

Devotion

Have you ever felt that your lack of confidence has kept you from your best in life? Or maybe fear has nearly choked you at times? I've been there, and sometimes still struggle with both of these things. I am learning, as the devotion tells us today, to put my hope and confidence in God. Go right to Him in these moments. Only He can bring the strength and peace we need to move forward. Have a Mirthful Monday ladies! (you can look it up. I did) :)

“In Over Your Head”

“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”
Psalm 51:6 (ESV)

I was in way over my head … and I knew it.

Trying to navigate the unfamiliar waters of the business world, I was seeking to land my first professional job.

Having moved five hours from my small-town home, I was in desperate need of a job. If I tanked, what would I do?

Afraid failure was just around the corner, I applied for a position that seemed a bit above my knowledge level. But once the job was mine, my mind began spinning.

What have I done? Am I really as competent as I said? What about all the jargon I don’t know? Why oh why did I interview for this position? Am I even capable of this? What was I thinking? I don’t even have a college degree! I should have just stuck with what I am comfortable doing because now I’m really in trouble!

My mind pushed me closer and closer to the cliff of failure. I couldn’t take the doubt inside of me. Skepticism stole my peace by day, and my sleep by night.

I decided I couldn’t sit around and wait for failure to come. On the first day of my new job, I located the Human Resources department, found the gal who hired me and … talked myself right out of the job. Yes, I did!

My employer was kind enough to find another position that didn’t require me to dress a certain way or sit at a high-profile desk. My new position (in the warehouse) was out of sight — and probably out of my employer's mind.

How’s that for lacking confidence? The door of opportunity opened, but my insecurity had talked me right into walking out that door. In the secret places of my heart, I’d listened to the whispers of fear and allowed it to make itself at home.

We all have times when we lack the confidence we need, just when we need it. Yet even when we’re shaking, we can rely on a wisdom — God’s wisdom — that we have cultivated before a confidence-challenge presents itself.

Psalm 51:6 says, “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”

Every day, we have a choice: What will we allow to reside in our hearts? What will we allow to take root?

God desires we choose to experience His truth, firmness and faithfulness — the picture of confidence. He wants us to experience this stabilizing wisdom in our innermost being, in the hidden place, the deepest part of our hearts. He wants His confidence to reside in that place no one else sees. There He will make wisdom known to us; there He can show us our next move.

I needed this deep kind of wisdom when I felt like I was in over my head, and I need it each day of my life.

I need to pour into my heart the wisdom that comes from the depths of God’s heart to the deepest part of mine. When I’m upset, unglued or uncertain, I need a wisdom only God can provide. When my world is shaken by rocky relationships, worrisome world events or failing finances, I need a confident wisdom that knows, on Christ my solid rock, all will be well.

We can choose what fills our hearts and where we allow our minds to go.

Should I choose to fill my mind with truth and my heart with God’s wisdom, insecurity and fear will be pushed out. There simply will not be enough space! 1 John 4:18b tells us, “… perfect love casts out fear.” (ESV) His presence and peace will come into my situation and comfort me.

You and I can make that choice. When our feelings try to force us forward, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can stop. We might not be strong enough to stop the swirling in our own strength, but we can stop our reactions with wisdom from God’s Word and the Spirit’s power.

We can always find time for this single-word prayer: Help.

Today, let’s practice our single word prayer.

Dear Lord, help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Lynn Cowell

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Psalm 46:5, “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” (NIV)

Jeremiah 17:7, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.” (NIV)

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Friday Devotion

12/8/2017

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Good morning! We made it through the week. Any plans for the weekend? Tonight we plan on working on our Christmas cards while watching Hallmark Christmas movies. And maybe throw in a little hot chocolate! Saturday actually has nothing on the calendar....whaaaat?! Unless, of course, I'm missing something.... we will probably do some Christmas shopping. I do need to get out. I've been a bit cooped up this week, due to a minor injury I got while we were in South Dakota. As I was trying to close our backseat van door (from the inside), I twisted wrong and something popped in my left upper rib cage. It wasn't extreme pain, so I thought I would just take Tylenol, rest, and see how it went for a few days. The pain actually got worse, so I went to the doctor on Wednesday and he thinks I have a torn rotator cuff. Seriously? Sometimes it just feels like it's one thing after another. I would appreciate your prayers. Thank you. It is feeling a little bit better today. On Sunday after church we have a lunch for staff and spouses. I'm looking forward to that. Always a great time! So that's about it for me.

Devotion

A quick note about the key verse: She uses the NIV on this, and I've read this verse from other versions that I think (personal study) depict the concept better. The word "straining" makes it sound as if we are toiling/barely making it. The King James Version uses the words "reaching forth" and the New Living Translation, which I use regularly, uses the words "looking forward to." And a bit down in the devotion, the words are "reaching for." For me, these give a better illustration that suggests a positive hope. Anyway, enough about that! She gives great encouragement to us for those times we are feeling down about things of the past that we can have a hard time moving on from. The good news is that we can have hope for our future because of Christ! Have a lovely weekend ladies and a Fabulous Friday!

“When Your Rooster Crows”

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13b-14 (NIV)

I sat on my back porch, wrapped in my fuzzy worn robe — the one that’s 20 years old, but I just can’t seem to get rid of.

The birch tree leaves shivered in the cool morning crispness, and the gerbera daisies stretched their faces to the sun … just a bit higher than the day before.

Then I heard him. The rooster.

ER-er-ER-er-ERRRR. I’m not sure where he lives, but it’s within earshot.

ER-er-ER-er-ERRRR. I thought of Peter. I thought of me. I thought of you.

Maybe you know the story found in Luke 22:31-34. At the dinner table, on the night before Jesus went to the cross, He had a chat with his friend Peter. He referred to Peter by his pre-disciple-days name: Simon.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

But Peter replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

If I were Jesus, I would’ve thought … Sure you are, buddy.

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me’” (Luke 22:34, NIV).

A few hours later, Peter did just that. Denied he even knew Jesus. Three times. And then the rooster crowed. ER-er-ER-er ERRRR.

And Peter went outside and cried and cried and cried.

The next morning, the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered his failure.

And the next, and the next and the next. With every cock-a-doodle-doo came a fresh reminder. First thing in the morning.

I’ve been there. Have you? I have failed. I have cried and cried and cried. And I have remembered.

Shame has poked drain holes in my Spirit-filled confidence, and I have hidden behind the wall with Peter … behind the bush with Eve. And even though I asked God to forgive me, the rooster still crowed in my heart … and I remembered my failure all over again. Like a trapeze artist who takes hold of the second bar, but refuses to let go of the first, I have hung — dangling over “life to the full.” And God calls to me … Let go. Move forward. Live bold. It’s the only way.

Paul tells me what to do … “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me ... Forgetting what lies behind and reaching for what lies ahead …” (Philippians 3:12b,13b).

And I see it clearly. For me and for you.

When we finally grasp all that Jesus has done for us and placed in us, we begin to experience life to the full — the faith we’ve always longed for. But taking hold is not enough. We’ve got to let go.

Let go of shame-filled ponderings and take hold of grace-filled pardon.

Let go of crippling bitterness and take hold of radical forgiveness.

Let go of weak-kneed worry and take hold of sure-footed confidence.

Let go of insecurity and take hold of your true identity as a child of God.

Let go of preoccupation with self-doubt and take hold of God’s power-filled promises.

Let go of comparison and take hold of your God-fashioned uniqueness.

Let go of the lies holding you hostage and take hold of truth that sets you free.

God has placed lavish promises in the safety deposit box of my heart and fashioned a cross-shaped key just for me … just for you. Letting go of shame and taking hold of grace is where it all begins.

What did Jesus have to say about Peter’s failure? Three strikes, you’re out? Hardly.

After His resurrection, Jesus pulled Peter aside and asked him three times … one for each denial … “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” then “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15b).

Jesus removed the shroud of shame hanging from Peter’s guilt-weary shoulders, and called him to return to the ministry he’d begun. He does the same for me and you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving me when I fail you. Help me not to feel guilty over something You’ve already forgiven. Help me not to listen to the devil’s accusations, but to the Holy Spirit’s whispers of grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Sharon Jaynes

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NASB)

Romans 8:1, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

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Thursday Devotion

12/7/2017

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Good morning ladies. I am loving the bright sunshine! How is your day so far? I plan to sit and write out some things for the rest of this month so I don't get too overwhelmed. I feel like things keep getting added to the calendar, but until I can actually see them in print (on my fridge), I will be flustered. It's interesting how our devotion today talks about this very subject. Focusing on the important thing(s) and letting go of some of the rest. Have a Thoughtful, Thankful Thursday!

Devotion

“The One Thing We Need This Year”

“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
Psalm 27:8 (NIV)

The other day, I realized Christmas is quickly approaching. Maybe you’re super organized, you’ve had your holiday plans on the calendar for months, and none of this has snuck up on you at all.

Or maybe you’re like me and find yourself resisting the urge to get in a tizzy and start steamrolling ahead to check everything off your to-do list. This usually leads to tensions running high, finances getting tight and me beating myself up over all the places I fall short.

So, I’ve decided to ask myself one simple question each day: What can I realistically do without losing my joy?

My deepest desire is to keep Jesus at the center of this season and seek Him above all else. Yes, the cry of my heart echoes David’s in Psalm 27:8, “My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

Several years ago, I decided to put this into practice, and I gave myself permission to let a few things slide to pursue what mattered most that holiday season. Here’s my journal entry from the night of December 25th that year --

I sit in the quiet watching the lights dance and flicker around what is left of our Christmas festivities. The presents are all opened and half of them strewn about, evidence of happy children that were too tired to carry their treasures to their room. They can do that tomorrow.

Usually a mess of this magnitude would have sent me into a cleaning frenzy complete with finger pointing and tense words, but not tonight. Tonight I’m going to bed with a heart completely at peace. For this was the first Christmas where my family hadn’t missed the One thing. The glory of Jesus Himself.

Oh, we missed other things this year. We missed buying the batteries for toys though their packages were clearly marked, “Batteries Not Included.” We missed a few family members and friends on our not-so-organized Christmas card list. We missed an ingredient from our homemade bread attempt that flopped, literally. We missed the deadline to send our out-of-town presents that I then cleverly marked as Happy New Year gifts. Yes, there were certainly things that were lacking about our holidays this year.

But we did not miss the One thing.

For the first time in years, I made a promise in my heart to keep Christ as the focus of our Christmas celebration, and we actually made good on that promise. We didn’t do it with a lot of commotion or craziness, but we celebrated Jesus in a most glorious way. Not that an outsider would have noticed a huge change. We still decorated the tree, baked our favorite cookies and gave gifts.

But … had someone happened upon our Christmas morning breakfast that year, they would have seen something different. The kids weren’t fidgeting in their chairs waiting to tear open the gifts calling their name from below the tree. They were eagerly awaiting their turn to give a gift to Jesus from their heart.

With a simple candle beside each breakfast plate, we took turns lighting our candle as we explained what gift we were giving from our heart to honor Jesus. My oldest son gave a renewed commitment to tithe, while my youngest daughter gave up her tendency to complain.

Each of us gave a gift that you could not tie a bow around or even touch in any way. But these gifts were precious and sincere. For just a brief moment, the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season faded as we invited our Jesus to sit and talk for a while. As we lit the candle next to Jesus’ plate at the table, we each told Him, “Thank You” and “Happy Birthday.”

Oh, sweet friend … what can you let go of this holiday season to really seek Jesus above all else?

Let this be the year you put aside the other things to glorify the One thing we all desperately need this Christmas.

Dear Jesus, I don’t want to spend this Christmas distracted by good things, only to miss out on the best thing — You. Slow me down. Pull me close. I want to be a woman who chooses to delight in the gift of Your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Lysa TerKeurst

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT)

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Wednesday Devotion

12/6/2017

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Good morning ladies. How are you on this crisp, cold but sunshiny day? Now you can tell that Winter is almost here. It seems like it might be a true Minnesota Winter this year. People around here seem generally happier if they get their Winter. What about you? Are you a Winter person?

Our Internet is extremely slow once again. You'd think we were in the middle of nowhere here when it's the exact opposite. The problem might actually be that there are too many people fighting for the same service. We've tried several different things to fix this and it's still a problem, so if I'm not on here one day, you can probably figure out what happened. It's a little bit frustrating, yet there are certainly worse things.

So, what's going on in your life? Have any of you started baking cookies yet? Sending out Christmas cards? Shopping and wrapping gifts? Planning for guests or going on a trip? Ah, this time of year. All the things. And yet, there is joy in the air as we prepare for the best gift of all....the true meaning of Christmas. The baby Jesus, born in a manger. The King of kings! Prince of Peace, Immanuel.

Devotion

Great devotion today about how God wants to give to us abundantly and fill us to overflowing...we just need to ask Him. PK is reading the author's book that is mentioned at the end of the devotion. He's a great writer. We actually met him many years ago when we were in the Los Angeles area. Have a Wonderful, Warm Wednesday!

“When Enough Isn’t Enough”

“Elisha said, ‘Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.’”
2 Kings 4:3 (NIV)

Ever been in that place where you feel you’ve given God everything you have, and yet somehow God’s abandoned you? Can you imagine living your life completely for God — then being completely abandoned, with no future or hope?

In 2 Kings 4, we meet the widow of a prophet from Elisha’s company. She’s at the end of herself. She tells Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” (2 Kings 4:1b, NIV)

This woman’s circumstances were unbearable. But to her credit, instead of turning away from God, she turns to Him by going to Elisha.

After hearing her situation, Elisha asks her a question that echoes Jesus speaking to two blind men: “How can I help you?” (v.2) In moments like those, you need to know what you want. Elisha presses in and asks, “Tell me, what do you have in your house?” (v.2)

Her response is a description of the state of her soul more than a description of her finances. She says she has nothing, except a small jar of olive oil.

Elisha tells her to go ask her neighbors for empty jars — and not just a few. He instructs her to pour the oil into all the jars until they’re filled and put them aside. The widow did as he asked. Then, Elisha told her to go sell the oil to pay her debts. After that, she could live on what was left.

This moment in Elisha’s life gives us insight into his understanding of how God works. He never actually tells the woman what God will do; he tells her only what she needs to do.

And although the widow feels she has nothing to offer, Elisha knows how even the little she’s entrusted to God will create a future she could never imagine. Our needs are God’s opportunity to reveal His generosity and goodness toward us.

A small jar of olive oil.

It’s amazing how God doesn’t need much to do much. He just needs everything we have, which is very little in comparison to God. Elisha then tells the widow to ask for empty jars. And he insists, “Don’t ask for just a few.”

Here, Elisha gives her a heads-up to not ask for too little. Her faith would save her life. Elisha seems to know the human inclination to expect too little from God. As if he’s trying to prod the woman’s faith: “Trust me, you’re going to want to have a lot of empty jars.”

She isn’t asking others to provide. All she wants are the empty jars. God will take what’s seen as worthless and turn them into containers for His abundance.

And there, the woman and her sons begin. She takes the little bit of olive oil and begins pouring the oil into the jars she’s gathered. The oil is multiplied over and over. She keeps pouring and pouring, and when all the jars are full, she says to her son, “Bring me another one.” He has to give her the bad news: “There is not a jar left” (v.6).

I imagine in that moment she wishes with every fiber of her being she’d collected more jars. It’s not incidental that when all the jars are full and not a jar is left, then — and only then — does the oil stop flowing. God does not run out of oil; the widow runs out of empty jars.

Fortunately, it’s more than she needs. She’s able to sell the oil and pay off her debts, so her sons will never live as slaves.

God is trying to teach us something here. He fills every empty jar we bring to Him. He takes the small jar of oil and multiplies it into unimaginable abundance. Most importantly, when I prepare my heart to receive from God, I shouldn’t ask for “just a few.” I should get all the “jars” I can, because the moment they’re full, the oil stops flowing.

This isn’t about greed or avarice or choosing gluttony over gratitude. This is about posturing my heart and life in God’s direction, knowing while He may not give everything I ask for, He’s waiting to offer proof that He’s with us. God can do and desires to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine.

Father, thank You for Your Spirit which gives passion and power to make invisible beauty visible. Help me recognize and challenge the limitations I place on myself, and inspire my heart, soul and mind as l act courageously to become an example of how You can do immeasurably more than I could ever ask or imagine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Erwin Raphael McManus

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (NIV)

Psalm 2:8, “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” (NIV)

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Tuesday Devotion

12/5/2017

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Good morning ladies! How are you? Welcome to Winter! (at least for us here in Minnesota) We made it home yesterday before the snowfall, and actually, the storm was starting in South Dakota as we were leaving. We had high winds all the way home, but at least no precipitation until we were back, unpacked, and safely inside. Thank You LORD! We had a great weekend. Both services were so special and everything went smoothly. I was moved with much emotion as we saw first-hand how God has been working in our kids' lives. I am so thankful (and as a Mom, very proud). What are some of the things you've been up to lately? Christmas seems to be right around the corner now.

Devotion

There is great comfort in knowing that, through the darkest of days, Jesus is our great Light and our Prince of Peace. Have a Terrific Tuesday!

“From Deep Darkness to Light”

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)

Twelve years ago on Christmas Day, I looked down at my pregnant belly with both sadness and relief. The doctor had told me the day before Thanksgiving my unborn baby girl would die in the womb due to severe chromosomal defects. Yet, there I was, a few miraculous weeks later, still carrying that sign of hope within.

Ever since sitting in that doctor’s office, God had truly been my Prince of Peace, filling my life with divine order and calmness. Yes, there were dark days filled with tears and questions and prayers. Some days, I doubted; other days, I was filled with faith. My baby’s heart kept beating.

But between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I lost that little 26-week-old baby.

As I lay down on the hospital bed and prepared to deliver the baby, the door opened, bringing what felt like the light of God into the room. The nurse assigned to me was the exact same nurse who’d helped deliver my first child. She knew my name. I couldn’t believe out of all the nurses in that huge hospital, the only one who knew me was not only working that night, she was working my room.

In that moment, it was divine assurance that God saw me. He was with me in my pain and sorrow. I wasn’t alone, and neither are you.

Today’s key verse from Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” When we live in the deep darkness of disease or death, lack or oppression, we’re not beyond hope.

Light always penetrates darkness. Darkness, no matter how deep, doesn’t stand a chance against a ray of light.

Later in that same chapter of Scripture, Isaiah 9:6 proclaims the good news that a child would be born, and a son given. He would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

God stands ready to be all this to you today, whether you’re walking in soft light or deep darkness.

We named our little baby girl Angel Rose, because she was a messenger from God to us, and her life was both beautiful and thorny. I can honestly say my memory of her is sweet because she taught me to trust in God like I never have before. She taught me to be thankful for every breath of life God gives. I experienced God’s presence in such a real way when I was pregnant with her. The worship song Blessed Be Your Name became my anthem:

“Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be Your name
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name.”

The more I sang and trusted, the more God flooded into my life to give me strength. Living in peace isn’t living problem-free. It’s living a messy life in the presence of a living God. God can and will provide divine order in your broken world if you invite Him into your deep darkness.

Before Christ came as a baby, we were doomed to eternal darkness. But now we live in the light of salvation through the messianic King. The dark gloom of judgment is past. The bright light of salvation is ours.

Christ’s birth doesn’t just impact all our tomorrows in eternity. His peace is for us today. He can increase our joy right now — no matter what burden we may carry.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Prince of Peace and the Light of the World. I trust You with my life and lift my burdens to You. You reign forever and ever with justice and righteousness. Increase my joy today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Arlene Pellicane

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Isaiah 9:3, “You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.” (NIV)

Psalm 29:11, “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” (NIV)

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