It’s the LAST day of 2018!
 
I don’t think I’m the only one who can’t believe how quickly this year flew by, which makes it even more important to believe that each day matters, uniquely and greatly.
 
I also know I'm not the only one who experienced highs and lows. Some of us more highs than lows and others more lows than highs. Regardless, we are here, yet again, on the break of another year. All glory to God.
 
One of my favorite songs by the artist Johnnyswim has a verse that repeats the phrase, “I don’t know what’s coming, but I know it’s gunna be good…”
 
As believers this statement is ultimately and surely true in Christ, so while I can’t and won't predict the future or promise you anything specific about the coming year, here are a few truths that I pray will be good anchors for our heart and soul as we head into 2019:

1. God will be faithful to you. Regardless of the circumstances you encounter-highs and lows, excitements and disappointments, losses and gains, He will be faithful to you because it’s His work in you. My prayer for us is that we remain faithful to Him. (2 Timothy 2:13).

 

1. God’s Love will not run dry. This year will be filed with moments where the enemy will try and make us believe that His love is poured out only in our “good and obedient” moments. Don’t buy into the lie. His love is beyond any love we know because it doesn’t discriminate when to pour it out. It has been spilled for our lives once and for all. This truth is not so we can abuse God’s unconditional love, it’s so we can be radically transformed by it and motivated by it to live for Him. (Romans 5:8).

 

1. His Word is Life and Light. May this be a year where we truly believe that we can’t be sustained in our walk with the Lord without His Word and we can’t overcome darkness and the battle of sin without His Word. If we are going to know God deeply, His Word must be in our hearts. This year, WITHIN will provide more ways to cultivate your relationship with God’s eternal Word. (Psalm 19:7-14, Psalm 119)

 

1. His Holy Spirit is real and active. For those of us who confess Jesus as Lord and trust in Him for our salvation and sanctification, His Spirit lives inside of us and speaks His truth to us. Cultivate listening to the Holy Spirit. He will not lie to you. He will give you discernment for all choices you are faced with. He will lead you into all Truth. Cultivating this kind of listening requires time and patience. May we be intentional with both. (John 14:25-16)

 

1. In all things, God is for you! If you are in Christ, God has not only saved you in the moment you believed, but He also began a Good work, one that He will continue to move towards completion for His glory and your joy in 2019. Now this Good work (conforming you to the image of Christ) won’t always be easy, in fact part of it is putting to death our old self as we more clearly reflect Christ. We are called by Christ to 1) deny ourselves 2) pick up our cross 3) and follow Him. The good news is that He gives us the strength and grace to obey these three challenging commands daily because He is for us. So, whether you are navigating trials, hardships or blessings in 2019, know that God is for you. Because of that promise we always have reason to give thanks, regardless of the circumstance. (Phil 1:6, Luke 9:23)

"Joy to the world, the Lord has come..."
​
If you’re like me, when I am asked between receiving good news or bad news first, I opt for the bad news first because it helps me appreciate the good news.

When we talk about the Good News of Jesus Christ, we must understand why it’s good news. It’s Good news because of the hopeless and dire situation we were and are in here on earth. You see, sin messed up and continues to mess up everything. Sin destroys and it destructs. Most tragically, sin separates us from a right relationship with God. Sin kept us out from entering His Holy presence.

And the Good News didn’t start at His death and resurrection, this Good News is because first and foremost, He chose to come-Immanuel-God with us. And we can rejoice in this time as we celebrate Christmas, despite the circumstances we may go through during the holidays, because of the powerful truth that God came. Here. To earth. God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, took on the form of flesh to dwell amongst His creation (John 1:14, Philippians 2:7).

He came into darkness to bring Light into our darkened hearts. His love for us sought reconciliation. Normally in a relationship, where there has been an offense, it’s the offender who should seek to make things right. Yet, with God, the One whom we offend because of our sins, sought the reconciliation. We aren’t even capable of reconciling on our own efforts. Not by our moralistic behaviors or by any sacrifice.

The truth is sin demands death. We rejoice in the Good News that it doesn’t have to be our death because Immanuel, God with us, chose for His Son Jesus to come, be born, and die as the perfect atonement.
And because He came, everything changes. For those of us who have put our trust in Him and received the gift of salvation He offers, we get God. How incredible is that? We get intimate relationship with the Holy, Majestic, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent God. This is no light matter. This is life altering truth. This is eternal assurance. This is Good News.

Because we get God, 

We are reconciled once and for all (2 Corinthians 5:18). We were once far off but He brought us near to Him (Colossians 1:22, Ephesians 2:17). We can enter His presence with confidence. (1 John 3:21).

Because we get God,

We are redeemed. The stains of sin don’t keep us in bondage. We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and our new identity is children of God. Not sinners of God.

Because we get God,

We are secure. Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8: 35-39). Literally nothing. Why? Because it’s His love that holds us. Not our own. And nothing can overpower His love.

Because we get God,

We lack nothing. He has given us everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 2:13). He gives us every spiritual blessing. He will supply everything according to His riches and glory (Philippians 4:19).

 Because we get God,

We are free. Not senseless and irresponsible, but free to live godly lives (1 Peter 2:16). Free from shame. Free from guilt. Free to let down our guards. Free to extend mercy and grace to our offenders. Free to not be in bondage to our selfish ways. Free to serve (Galatians 5:13).

Because we get God,

We are joyful. Not naïve and immune to tribulations and hardships (1 Peter 4:16). But we are not shaken. Not moved (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Isaiah 40:31). We can be found on the Rock.

Because we get God,

We aren’t consumed or choked by the worries of this life. We are more valuable than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field whom God lovingly takes care of. How much more us? (Luke 12: 25-31).

Ladies, I can go on and on and it wouldn’t end. The greatest point is that WE GET GOD. As we prepare for Christmas next week, let’s meditate on these glorious truths: He came. He is here, in us. And He will come again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:John 1:14
Luke 12: 25-31
2 Corinthians 4:8-9,
Isaiah 40:31
1 Peter 4:16
1 Peter 2:16
Galatians 5:13
Romans 8: 35-39
2 Corinthians 5:17
1 John 3:21
Colossians 1:22,
Ephesians 2:17
2 Corinthians 5:18
John 1:14,
Philippians 2:7


Questions to reflect on:

1. How have you found yourself distracted by the commercialization of Christmas?
2. How will you use the truth found in God’s Word through this devotional to focus on what it means for God to be with us during this Christmas season?