Category: finding peace

Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…. The Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name.”
– Luke 1:46 (NIV)

While Mary’s submission to God’s will costs her in ways we can never imagine, for Jesus to come to life in the hearts of people today our attitude must be the same as her attitude was on this night of miracle and mystery. We too, must be willing to be the Lord’s servant and offer him the praise of our lives and of our lips. In Jesus, the Lord has done great things for us. Our joy comes from above!

Majestic Father, Almighty God, you have done wonderful things for me. You have saved me from sin, you have paid the price for my rebellion, and you have given me the promise of heaven and the Holy Spirit to empower me there. You are greater than I can imagine and your glory is without compare, yet you have stooped so low as to reach me and then raised me back up with you by your grace. I can never fully thank you, for you are more wonderful to me than my words can declare or a thousand years of life could repay. In Jesus holy name I give you all glory and praise. Amen.

The angel said to [Mary], “Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.”
– Luke 1:30-33 (NIV)

Jesus is identified by many names stated or implied in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Notice how Jesus is identified in just this one passage: child, son, Jesus, great, Son of the Most High, King, son of David, and leader of Israel (Jacob). Jesus exhausts all descriptions, and yet chose to be limited to imperfect descriptions by becoming human. But this flood of names and descriptions helps us find Jesus as our Savior in every trial and blessing of life. Jesus is Savior for all seasons.

Holy and Almighty Father, I thank you for all the ways Jesus is described and all the names he is given. They help me see the breadth of his nature and the depth of his character. Please bless me that I may always find a dimension of Jesus’ ministry or a name or description of Jesus to help sustain me, when I walk through the shadows of doubt caused by the evil one. Help me, O Father, to see Jesus and not my preoccupations and biases so that when he comes again, I will know him, and he me. Through the glorious name of the Savior I pray. Amen.

 

 

 

 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”– John 14:6

I don’t want to be any more exclusive than Jesus. But I do want to hear his voice. He calls me to find the way to the Father through him. I must also know that others must know him to find their way to the Father, too. How can we not be more passionate about those around us who do not really know Jesus as their Savior, Redeemer, Brother, and Lord? How can the first four books of our New Testament lie unread?

Holy God and Righteous Father, give me a passion for Jesus and a heart that knows him in word, deed, and concern. In the name of Jesus, your mighty Word, I pray. Amen.

And [an angel] carried me [John] away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
– Revelation 21:10 NIV

The Holy Spirit brings hope. There is the hope for current circumstances that the Spirit brings through his comforting and enabling presence. The Spirit also brings hope for the future through the promise of Scripture and God’s visions for us of greater things that lie ahead for us. In a time of unspeakable danger and fear when John had his vision, Jesus’ call to his disciples was to be faithful even to the point of death. In that situation, this vision given by the Spirit is one of victory and hope. The Spirit brings hope — not a wish for a better future, but the assurance that a glorious future awaits us.

Father of mercy, thank you for giving me the assurance that a victorious future awaits. Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit as a gift, a down payment, guaranteeing that glorious future. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
– Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

God waited till history reached his appointed time and sent Jesus. Just the right time — Roman rule, Jewish subordination, good roads, freedom, a degree of safety, a common trading language, cruel and barbaric punishment accompanied by religious infighting. In times such as these, he sent his Son to be a woman’s son. He emptied his home so he could send a redeemer to our home. He did it so we could be his children — not pretend children, but real children, with full rights. So he could not only be God, but so he could be Father God. The rules of the kingdom of heaven are not for restriction and subjugation.  Father God manages His family well and the children of the house respect Him… rightfully so… His rules set us free.

Father, even your name is precious to me. I gasp at how much it cost you to let me call you Abba. I don’t understand such extravagant love, but I thank you for it. I know I don’t deserve to call you Father, but it sounds so right. Something inside resonates at the sound of Father God — Holy, Righteous, Almighty, Loving! While I know that I will never be a perfect child, I rest today in the confidence that I am your child and you claim me. Thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
– Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

God is interested in us personally. So much so, that he personally gives us this sign. Because of Matthew’s explanation of the meaning of the name Immanuel, we know what that sign was – Jesus coming to live as God with us. His presence is God’s presence. His life is God’s sign. The miracle of his conception is God’s mystery and also his statement of grace for us.

Holy and Almighty Lord who refuses to be the god who is detached and far away: I thank you for coming to live among us in Jesus. I thank you and praise you for your sacrifice and pain. I know this sign cost you greatly so please let my praise in prayer, song, thought and life reflect my thanks to you in Jesus name. Amen.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
– 2 Timothy 1:14 nlt

We are not left to guard the truth trusted to us on our own strength. We have the Holy Spirit who lives within us. The Spirit is our anointing to help us know the truth. The Spirit is our Advocate-Comforter-Counselor-Helper to lead us into all truth and help us know truth from error. The Spirit’s work within us allows us to understand the spiritual messages of God through the Biblical writers, and those who truthfully proclaim Jesus. So rather than relying on our insight, wisdom, intellect, and study alone, we are called to seek the Spirit as we open the Bible, listen to the word proclaimed, seek to apply God’s truth to our lives, and commit to guard the truth of God that has been deposited into our hearts.

Father God, please send your Spirit to be at work in my heart as I seek to live for you and reflect the character and compassion of Jesus, my Lord, in whose name I pray. Amen.

 

[Jesus said,] “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
– John 16:13 NLT

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work in harmony as the one, true, living God. Jesus sends the Spirit to us when we become his true followers (Titus 3:3-7). The Spirit guides us into the truth about the will of God and about Jesus — the truth about both Jesus’ ministry while he was physically on earth and his subsequent ministry, including his ministry now. So let’s ask for the Spirit to guide us into all the truth about Jesus.

Almighty God, I address you as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I thank you for your love, mercy, and grace. I am astounded at your majesty, greatness, and holiness. I ask now, O God, that the Holy Spirit guide me into all truth about Jesus and into wisdom, understanding, and conviction about the life you want me to live. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
– John 6:35 (NIV)

We crave food at regular intervals during the day. During this holiday season food occupies our thoughts and fills up our activities. But deep in our soul is a hunger, a soul hunger. This hunger cannot be filled by food, drink, or chemicals. This hunger was the desire built into us by our Creator, placed there when he knit us together in our mother’s womb. This hunger can only be satiated by Jesus.

Please fill me, my Father, with Jesus. Give me today, my Daily Bread, that I may find life in all its fullness. Precious Lord, Jesus my brother and Savior, fill me and touch me with your presence so that I can serve you by blessing those around me with your grace. In the name of Jesus, my Living Bread, I pray. Amen.

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
– Hebrews 1:1-2 (NIV)

God is a speaking God. He loves us and has chosen to get his message to us in words. First there were the patriarchs and great prophets. Then there was the written record in the Scriptures. But God’s greatest message, his most powerful words, were not really words at all, but a person named Jesus of Nazareth, who is Christ and Lord of all. For us, his Church, to be what he wants us to be, we must not just look at Scripture, we must also look at him. He is the key to understanding what Scripture means and how it is to be lived. Our part in mission and ministry today is to continue to deliver the message with our actions and use words if we must to tell of the wonders of Jesus.

Holy Father, help me to see Jesus and his work and purpose more clearly as I open your Book and seek to understand your will. Fill me with your Spirit, so that I may greet each decision awakened to the answer to “What would Jesus do?” In the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior may my daily service and work be acceptable and worthy of my own calling. Amen.