Emmanuel

December 1st – Matthew 1:23

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Matthew 1:23

One of the names of Jesus is, “Emmanuel, God with us.” A most beautiful and intimate truth of Scripture, and Matthew 1:23 brings it to the center of the Christmas story. For it shares how that God didn’t stay distant or unreachable. Instead, He stepped into our world, our struggles, and our humanity. That’s what makes Emmanuel so special. The King of heaven chose to walk among us so we would never have to walk alone. During this Christmas season, when days can feel overly busy, heavy, or emotionally full, Emmanuel reminds us that God is present in every moment. His nearness brings peace to anxious hearts, strength to weary souls, and comfort to places we don’t speak about out loud. Because He is with us, we can walk through uncertainty with confidence, knowing we are held by a love that never leaves. Emmanuel means God is closer than our breath, gentler than our fears, and stronger than our storms. Let this truth settle into your spirit today. No matter where you find yourself, you are not alone!

Reflect:
Where do I need to remember that God is with me today? Are there places in my heart, my relationships, or my worries where I’ve forgotten His nearness?

Pray Prompt:
“Lord, help me feel Your nearness in a deeper way today. Quiet the noise around me so I can sense Your presence, and strengthen my faith to trust that You walk with me in every moment. Remind me that I am never abandoned and that Your love is always enough.”

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December 24th – Isaiah 7:14

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Isaiah 7:14

The precious prophecy in Isaiah, given centuries before the nativity scene at Bethlehem, is a beacon of hope and a testament to God’s great love shown through His plan for redemption. For in it we hear of God’s promise of Emmanuel, God with us. As Christmas draws near, the profound truth of the Incarnation beckons us into a space of awe and wonder. The Almighty, cloaked in the vulnerability of human flesh, descends into the ordinary, making the extraordinary accessible. This divine mystery challenges the limits of our comprehension and invites us to contemplate the staggering reality that the Creator of the universe willingly entered into the fragility of our existence. In the hallowed stillness of the Bethlehem manger, the echoes of Isaiah 7:14 resound. A promise fulfilled, a love made tangible, and an invitation to marvel at the miracle of God choosing to dwell among us. As we embrace the wonder of “God with us,” may our hearts be stirred with reverence, gratitude, and overflow with love.

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January 3rd – 2 Timothy 1:7

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2 Timothy 1:7

God’s gift of emotions can be a double edged sword. For with one side we experience love, joy, and gratitude. Yet with the other, pain, fear, and doubt. And make no mistake. Satan wields the bitter side of that blade ferociously and without mercy. But get this. He can only attack if we let him. You heard me. The Enemy can only strike when we allow him a foothold into our hearts and minds.

Paul makes it very clear in his letter to Timothy. God fills our spirits with His strength, power and love. The same power flowing through Jesus as He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and walked on water, resides in us! And that power of God waits with an extended hand for us to grab hold. Because overcoming fear is a two person operation. God gives us the power, but we have to use our sound minds to practice self control. Meaning we are to actively, and intentionally take ahold of our thoughts. And filter those thoughts through the sieve of God’s truth instead of Satan’s lies.

We are in a battle of a lifetime, and I truly believe we are living in the last days. So how am I going to spend the time remaining? One thing I know for sure, is that I’m done wasting it being afraid. I’m tired of running scared. I’m tired of letting Satan control my thoughts. And I’m tired of going down the rabbit hole of “what ifs.” I’m ready to go to war, with God as my Captain.

So the next time I find myself afraid, stuck, and unable to move, I’m  going yell out the word FEAR as a call to my Father, Emmanuel, Adonai, and Redeemer. Ruler and Creator of all things, “the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4)

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December 2nd – Genesis 1:26-31

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Genesis 1:26-31

When we go to the Bible to read about our Savior’s birth, we usually turn to the New Testament. But the coming of Jesus Christ into this world actually begins in the book of Genesis. Because before He ever created man, God knew we would need a Savior. Our Father, in His infinite wisdom, knew we would fail Him. He knew how great man would fall, and stain His perfect creation with our wickedness. Yet He created us anyway. And going a step further, God gave us the gift of creating us in His image. From His great love, He uniquely blessed us with all of His amazing qualities, including the ability to have a close, personal, relationship with our Creator. But God also knew how that relationship would be severed by our sin. And so He Himself became a man and lived among us. Our Emanuel came to restore and establish an unbreakable bond between us and Him forever!

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