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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017
Dear God, help us to do what you want us to do and to be who you created us to be. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.
“May your word to me be fulfilled.” (LUKE 1:38 (NIV))
It had been a long, cold, and wet day of touring in Israel. I had been jostled by the crowds at the Church of the Nativity. I had shivered in the cold and looked for shelter from the wind in a shepherd’s field east of Bethlehem. Now I was navigating Jerusalem’s rush hour traffic to arrive at the Mount of Olives and visit the Garden of Gethsemane. As I knelt and prayed in the place where historians believe Jesus knelt and prayed, my mind went back to Nazareth, where I had been the day before. In that moment I felt the power of the prayer that Jesus and Mary had prayed 50 miles and 30 years apart: “My God, I will do whatever you want me to do.” For the first time I realized how much Jesus was like his mother, Mary. God asks all of us to give of ourselves, but we often aren’t sure we want to follow where God leads. Mary and Jesus were not sure they wanted to do what God asked of them, but they did it anyway. It helps me to know that Mary and Jesus also struggled, and it brings me comfort to know that Jesus was echoing his mother’s obedience as he prayed that night in Gethsemane. We can follow their example and pray for God’s will to be done.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
It had been a long, cold, and wet day of touring in Israel. I had been jostled by the crowds at the Church of the Nativity. I had shivered in the cold and looked for shelter from the wind in a shepherd’s field east of Bethlehem. Now I was navigating Jerusalem’s rush hour traffic to arrive at the Mount of Olives and visit the Garden of Gethsemane. As I knelt and prayed in the place where historians believe Jesus knelt and prayed, my mind went back to Nazareth, where I had been the day before. In that moment I felt the power of the prayer that Jesus and Mary had prayed 50 miles and 30 years apart: “My God, I will do whatever you want me to do.” For the first time I realized how much Jesus was like his mother, Mary. God asks all of us to give of ourselves, but we often aren’t sure we want to follow where God leads. Mary and Jesus were not sure they wanted to do what God asked of them, but they did it anyway. It helps me to know that Mary and Jesus also struggled, and it brings me comfort to know that Jesus was echoing his mother’s obedience as he prayed that night in Gethsemane. We can follow their example and pray for God’s will to be done.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
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Luke 22:39 On leaving, Yeshua went as usual to the Mount of Olives; and the talmidim followed him. 40 When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t be put to the test.” 41 He went about a stone’s throw away from them, kneeled down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, let not my will but yours be done.” 43 There appeared to him an angel from heaven giving him strength, 44 and in great anguish he prayed more intensely, so that his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 On rising from prayer and coming to the talmidim, he found them sleeping because of their grief. 46 He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you won’t be put to the test!”
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How will I follow Jesus’ example today?
People on pilgrimage
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 19 December 2017 " - Galatians 6:7-10
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2017
Dear Lord, help us to trust that you are working alongside us even as we anticipate the harvest. Amen.
See how the farmer waits for the land to
yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting
for the autumn and spring rains. (JAMES 5:7 (NIV))
In Luke 10:2, Jesus compared the task of sharing the gospel with the work of farming. He told the disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” This comparison helps me to think about my own efforts to share my faith. A committed planter sows seeds and expects results. When the ground remains bare, what keeps a sower from discouragement? Patient trust. He knows he must wait for the seed to sprout. Once he sees the plant shoot up from the ground, he awaits further growth. Every stage of growth requires his perseverance. For years, I have prayed regularly for loved ones and tried to show them Christ’s love. I mail cards and make phone calls. When I see them face to face, I encourage them. Yet often the progress within those for whom I have put forth the most effort seems small to me. When I prayed about my frustration, God reminded me that just as a farmer cannot see seeds sprouting underground, I cannot see what God is doing in the lives of my loved ones. We can trust and wait confidently for growth. Like farmers, we can work and hope for the harvest while being patient for our efforts to bear fruit.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
In Luke 10:2, Jesus compared the task of sharing the gospel with the work of farming. He told the disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” This comparison helps me to think about my own efforts to share my faith. A committed planter sows seeds and expects results. When the ground remains bare, what keeps a sower from discouragement? Patient trust. He knows he must wait for the seed to sprout. Once he sees the plant shoot up from the ground, he awaits further growth. Every stage of growth requires his perseverance. For years, I have prayed regularly for loved ones and tried to show them Christ’s love. I mail cards and make phone calls. When I see them face to face, I encourage them. Yet often the progress within those for whom I have put forth the most effort seems small to me. When I prayed about my frustration, God reminded me that just as a farmer cannot see seeds sprouting underground, I cannot see what God is doing in the lives of my loved ones. We can trust and wait confidently for growth. Like farmers, we can work and hope for the harvest while being patient for our efforts to bear fruit.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
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Galatians 6:7 Don’t delude yourselves: no one makes a fool of God! A person reaps what he sows. 8 Those who keep sowing in the field of their old nature, in order to meet its demands, will eventually reap ruin; but those who keep sowing in the field of the Spirit will reap from the Spirit everlasting life. 9 So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don’t give up, we will in due time reap the harvest. 10 Therefore, as the opportunity arises, let us do what is good to everyone, and especially to the family of those who are trustingly faithful.
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If I sow the seed, God will bring the harvest.
Farmers
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Monday, 18 December 2017 "Light from Darkness" by Alex Pinder (North Carolina) - 1 John 4:7-12
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2017
Dear Lord, comfort us when we are unsure about the future. Shed your divine light upon our path so that we can glorify you. Amen.
Paul wrote, “I press on toward the goal to
win the prize for which God has called
me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (PHILIPPIANS 3:14 (NIV))
As a junior in high school, I am often swamped with work. Tests, projects, papers, and homework quickly pile up. Long ago I decided to stop procrastinating, so I work late into the night to complete assignments due the next day and to work ahead. Doing this prevents my school work from piling up. Distractions — especially my phone — abound; but by keeping my eye on the goal of going to the college of my choice, I am able to survive the nights and days of desktop drudgery. In the end, it has been worth it because this year I have received the best grades of my academic career. Keeping my eyes on the goal of going to college helps me to complete my schoolwork more easily. In much the same way, keeping my eyes on Christ assures me that I will dwell with him in heaven one day. Everything I do for God strengthens my love for God and increases my desire to live with God forever in heaven. Christ’s coming at Christmas illuminated the world. His death and resurrection carved a clear path to heaven, ensuring that this light will never fade.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
As a junior in high school, I am often swamped with work. Tests, projects, papers, and homework quickly pile up. Long ago I decided to stop procrastinating, so I work late into the night to complete assignments due the next day and to work ahead. Doing this prevents my school work from piling up. Distractions — especially my phone — abound; but by keeping my eye on the goal of going to the college of my choice, I am able to survive the nights and days of desktop drudgery. In the end, it has been worth it because this year I have received the best grades of my academic career. Keeping my eyes on the goal of going to college helps me to complete my schoolwork more easily. In much the same way, keeping my eyes on Christ assures me that I will dwell with him in heaven one day. Everything I do for God strengthens my love for God and increases my desire to live with God forever in heaven. Christ’s coming at Christmas illuminated the world. His death and resurrection carved a clear path to heaven, ensuring that this light will never fade.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
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1 John 4:7 Beloved friends, let us love one another; because love is from God; and everyone who loves has God as his Father and knows God. 8 Those who do not love, do not know God; because God is love. 9 Here is how God showed his love among us: God sent his only Son into the world, so that through him we might have life. 10 Here is what love is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the kapparah for our sins.
11 Beloved friends, if this is how God loved us, we likewise ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains united with us, and our love for him has been brought to its goal in us.
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No matter how bad things seem, God’s light shines on me.
Someone preparing for college
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Sunday, 17 December 2017 "Third Sunday of Advent" by Marion Speicher Brown (Florida) - Luke 2:36-38
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2017
We praise you, living God! Thank you for including us in your ever-expanding story of salvation. Amen.
[Anna] gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (LUKE 2:38 (NIV))
The prophet Anna is one of my Christmas heroes. She didn’t guard sheep by night or visit the manger. Nevertheless, Anna became part of the extended Christmas story, celebrating the infant Savior 40 days later in Jerusalem. I admire Anna because she kept herself alert for God’s purposes in her life. In spite of her age, she trusted that the Lord had work for her to do. She stayed close to God through prayer and fasting. She lived expectantly, ready to participate. As soon as she saw Simeon with the baby, she realized that this infant was the Christ child. Her praise was instantaneous. She became a herald of the happy news: Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Her witness spread throughout the temple. I’m glad that Anna is part of the extended Christmas story. Her example of expectant faith encourages me. Along with the angels and shepherds, she proclaimed God’s unfolding plan. In a similar way, our lives can be woven into God’s ongoing story of salvation in surprising ways. All we are asked to do is to stay alert and respond when God calls.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
The prophet Anna is one of my Christmas heroes. She didn’t guard sheep by night or visit the manger. Nevertheless, Anna became part of the extended Christmas story, celebrating the infant Savior 40 days later in Jerusalem. I admire Anna because she kept herself alert for God’s purposes in her life. In spite of her age, she trusted that the Lord had work for her to do. She stayed close to God through prayer and fasting. She lived expectantly, ready to participate. As soon as she saw Simeon with the baby, she realized that this infant was the Christ child. Her praise was instantaneous. She became a herald of the happy news: Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Her witness spread throughout the temple. I’m glad that Anna is part of the extended Christmas story. Her example of expectant faith encourages me. Along with the angels and shepherds, she proclaimed God’s unfolding plan. In a similar way, our lives can be woven into God’s ongoing story of salvation in surprising ways. All we are asked to do is to stay alert and respond when God calls.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
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Luke 2:36 There was also a prophet named Hannah Bat-P’nu’el, of the tribe of Asher. She was a very old woman — she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage 37 and had remained a widow ever since; now she was eighty-four. She never left the Temple grounds but worshipped there night and day, fasting and praying. 38 She came by at that moment and began thanking God and speaking about the child to everyone who was waiting for Yerushalayim to be liberated.
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I will live expectantly, knowing that God is at work.
Newborn babies
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Header Photo Credit: "Harvested Land," Beth Shumate. August 15, 2014. (link)
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